Cost trends among commercially insured and Medicare Advantage-insured patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: 2006 through 2009.

BACKGROUND: Few estimates of health care costs related to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are available regarding commercially insured patients in the United States. The aims of this retrospective observational analysis of administrative data were to describe and compare health care resource use and costs related to COPD in the United States for patients with commercial insurance or Medicare Advantage with Part D benefits, and to assess cost trends over time.
METHODS: Patient-level and visit-level health care costs in the calendar years 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 were assessed for patients with evidence of COPD. Generalized linear models adjusting for sex, age category, and geographic region were used to investigate cost trends over time for patients with Medicare or commercial insurance.
RESULTS: Medical costs, which ranged from an annual mean of US$2382 (Medicare 2007) to US$3339 (commercial 2009) per patient, comprised the majority of total costs in all years for patients with either type of insurance. COPD-related costs were less for Medicare than commercial cohorts. In the multivariate analysis, total costs increased by approximately 6% per year for commercial insurance patients (cost ratio 1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04-1.07; P < 0.001) and 5% per year for Medicare patients (cost ratio 1.05; 95% CI 1.03-1.07; P < 0.001). Costs for outpatient and emergency department visits increased significantly over time in both populations. Standard admission costs increased significantly for Medicare patients (cost ratio 1.03; 95% CI 1.00-1.05; P = 0.03), but not commercial patients, and costs for intensive care unit visits remained stable for both populations.
CONCLUSION: COPD imposed a substantial economic burden on patients and the health care system, with costs increasing significantly in both the Medicare and commercial populations.

Introduction

Chronic lower respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) represent a substantial portion of the burden of chronic illness in the United States (US). In 2008, chronic lower respiratory diseases surpassed stroke to become the third leading cause of death in the US,1 and the US ranked second highest in COPD mortality in 2007 compared with 16 industrialized countries.2 Projections suggest that the global ranking of COPD mortality will rise relative to other causes over the next 20 years.3 In a study of chronic diseases among Medicare beneficiaries in 2005, patients with evidence of COPD comprised a greater proportion of the population Original Research than patients with cancer (breast, colorectal, prostate, and lung cancer combined) or chronic kidney disease.4

COPD is a progressive respiratory disease defined by airflow limitation.5 The working definition set forth by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) states: “COPD is a preventable and treatable disease with some significant extrapulmonary effects that may contribute to the severity in individual patients. Its pulmonary component is characterized by airflow limitation that is not fully reversible. The airflow limitation is usually progressive and associated with an abnormal inflammatory response of the lung to noxious particles or gases.”5 In addition to these defining characteristics, patients also exhibit chronic dyspnea and bronchitis, cough, sputum production, and pathologic features of emphysema. Patients with moderate to severe COPD have periods of symptom worsening superimposed on overall disease progression. These exacerbations negatively affect patient quality of life.6,7

Aims of managing stable COPD include reducing the frequency and severity of exacerbations as well as controlling baseline symptoms.5,8,9 Maintenance medications, including bronchodilators, inhaled corticosteroids, combination medications, and oxygen therapy for severe COPD are primarily used at home. Hospitalization is common for patients experiencing a severe exacerbation.5,10,11 Severe exacerbations might be managed in an inpatient or emergency department (ED) setting, but life-threatening exacerbations may require immediate intensive care unit (ICU) admission.5

The high prevalence2,3,12–14 and morbidity of COPD contributed to a projected US$29.5 billion in related direct costs in 2010 in the US.2 In an analysis of commercially insured patients in the US in 2006, the mean annual COPD-related health care cost per patient was estimated to range from US$2003 to US$43,461 (2008 cost year), depending on the level of care received.15 Mean hospital costs for visits associated with exacerbations in 2008 were estimated to range up to US$44,909 for ICU admissions that required intubation; this value increased to US$45,607 when only Medicare beneficiaries were included in the analysis.16,17 In a study of Medicare beneficiaries in 2005, the mean annual payment per patient with COPD, estimated as US$21,409, exceeded average payments for patients with heart failure, depression, cancer, or diabetes.4 This study of Medicare costs covered a period prior to the implementation of the Part D pharmacy benefit, and thus does not reflect pharmacy costs.

Hospitalization is a significant aspect of the burden of COPD. US national survey data indicate that hospitalizations for COPD have increased since 1990, reaching 23.6 per 10,000 population in 2005.18 Discharge data from US hospitals in 2007 showed that COPD accounted for 26.1 hospitalizations per 10,000 population aged 45–64 years; this rate was similar to that reported for diabetes and pneumonia in this age group.19 For patients aged 65–74 years, however, the hospitalization rate for COPD more than tripled to 92.6 per 10,000 population – similar to pneumonia but exceeding diabetes in this age group.19 In addition, Medicare beneficiaries with COPD had more inpatient stays and days than patients with cancer, diabetes, or heart failure in 2005.4

Hospitalization is a major cost driver in COPD management overall2,15,20 and is a primary component of exacerbation costs.21 Hospital care was projected to account for 45% of direct COPD costs in the US in 2010, whereas prescription drugs comprised approximately 20%.2 Inpatient care accounted for approximately 80% of excess costs for COPD patients in a matched comparison of Medicare beneficiaries with and without COPD in 2004.22 Because of the link between exacerbations and hospitalization, reducing exacerbation frequency or severity could reduce COPD-related hospitalizations and thereby reduce costs.23,24

Disease-management initiatives have potential to reduce health care costs associated with COPD.25 In order to assess the effect of such initiatives, a benchmark is needed for comparison. The objectives of this study are to provide a baseline estimate of costs of COPD-related care for patients in the US, including those on Medicare Advantage plus Part D or with commercial insurance, and to assess cost trends over time.

Material and methods

Data source

Medical, pharmacy, and enrolment data from a large US health care claims database affiliated with OptumInsight (formerly Innovus) were used in this retrospective study. Data from commercial and Medicare Advantage populations were used. No identifiable protected health information was extracted or accessed during the course of the study. Pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act,26 the use of de-identified data does not require Institutional Review Board approval or waiver of authorization.

Patient selection

Eligible patients had either commercial (employer-based) insurance or Medicare Advantage with Part D benefits. Patients were selected for inclusion in the study based on evidence of COPD-related health service utilization during at least one of the calendar years of interest (2006 through 2009). Evidence of COPD-related care was based on medical and pharmacy claims. Specifically, patients were included if they fulfilled one of three criteria during a year of interest: (1) ED or inpatient facility claim with COPD (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification [ICD-9-CM] code 491, 491.0, 491.1, 491.2x, 491.8, 491.9, 492, 492.0, 492.8, or 496) in the primary diagnosis position (for an inpatient stay, the diagnosis code must have been on a hospital claim); or (2) an outpatient claim with a primary diagnosis of COPD and a second outpatient medical claim with a COPD diagnosis in any position on a separate service date; or (3) a physician claim with a primary or secondary (any position other than primary) diagnosis of COPD and a filled prescription for a COPD maintenance treatment (ie, anticholinergic, long-acting beta agonist [LABA], or inhaled corticosteroid/LABA combination). Patients were also required to be at least 40 years of age as of the cohort year and to be continuously enrolled in the health plan with both medical and pharmacy benefits for the calendar year of interest.

Claims dated in the years 2006 through 2009 for patients with commercial insurance and years 2007 through 2009 for patients with Medicare Advantage plus Part D were included in the analysis. The analysis started in 2007 for the Medicare population because use of the Part D benefit may have been inconsistent or unrepresentative in 2006, the first year it was implemented. Study cohorts were formed based on insurance type and the calendar year of service: 2006, 2007, 2008, or 2009. Patient follow-up covered each discrete calendar year; ie, individual patients were not followed longitudinally from year to year although they may have been included in more than 1 year-based cohort if they fulfilled the inclusion criteria in more than 1 year.

Data regarding patient characteristics were collected from enrolment information and claims. These included age, sex, geographic region, and evidence of comorbidities such as asthma. Diagnosis of asthma (ICD-9-CM 493.xx), chronic bronchitis (491.xx), emphysema (492.xx), or chronic airway obstruction not elsewhere classified (496.xx) in any position during the year was noted, and comorbidity burden was quantified using the Quan-Charlson comorbidity score.27

Cost calculations

COPD-related costs were tabulated in each year of interest based on total paid amounts, including patient- and health plan-paid amounts. Use of actual paid costs provides a view of the true costs of COPD incurred by payers and patients. Costs for commercially insured patients include estimated Medicare or other payer contributions based on coordination of benefits information. All costs were adjusted to 2008 US dollars using the Consumer Price Index.28

Medical costs comprise costs for COPD-related visits, other related medical services (ie, from claims with COPD diagnosis in the primary position that did not fall into specified visit categories), and oxygen use. COPD-related visits included outpatient, urgent outpatient, and ED visits, as well as standard admissions (no ICU) and ICU stays. An “outpatient” visit was defined as a medical claim for office or outpatient care with COPD indicated in the primary or secondary position, but no evidence of an “urgent” visit (defined below). Outpatient care included physician office visits, outpatient hospital services, laboratory visits, and urgent care center visits. An “urgent outpatient” visit was based on a medical claim for outpatient care for COPD (primary or secondary position) followed by a pharmacy claim for an oral corticosteroid or antibiotic within 7 days after the visit. An “ED” visit was based on a medical claim for an ED visit for COPD (primary position). A “standard admission” was based on an inpatient stay for COPD (diagnosis in the primary position on a hospital claim), but no evidence of ICU treatment during the stay. “ICU” care was defined as a medical claim during an inpatient stay with revenue code of 020x, 021x, 0223, or 0234 or a current procedural terminology (CPT) procedure code for critical care (99291–99292). Oxygen use was identified by medical procedure (CPT/HCPCS E0424–E0444, E0445, E0455, E0550, E0560, E1353–E1372, E1399, K0740; ICD-9 93.96), diagnosis (ICD-9 V46.2), and facility revenue codes (0277, 0544, 060x).

COPD-related pharmacy costs were summed from pharmacy claims for any of the following medications: short-acting beta agonists, LABAs, anticholinergics, methylxanthines, oral/intravenous corticosteroids, inhaled corticosteroids, inhaled corticosteroid/LABA combinations, other respiratory medications, or antibiotics.

Patient- and visit-level analyses

Patient-level costs were calculated as the sum of costs during the year of interest and reported as the mean annual cost among patients in the year-based cohort. COPD-related medical and pharmacy costs are reported separately in the patient-level analysis, and total COPD-related health care costs are the sum of COPD-related medical and pharmacy costs. Visit-level costs were calculated based on all visits of a given type during the year and are reported as the mean cost per COPD-related care episode. Multivariate models were used to assess patient-level and visit-level cost trends over time.

COPD-related hospital readmissions were also assessed. COPD-related readmissions were defined as COPD-related hospital stays (primary diagnosis of COPD) that occurred after the initial COPD-related admission (ie, patients who had more than one COPD-related hospital stay in the study year were considered to have a readmission). The percentages of patients with readmissions within 30 days and 60 days of the initial admission are also reported. ED visits were not considered in the assessment of readmissions.

Statistical analysis

Patient- and visit-level costs are reported with descriptive statistics. Trends over time were investigated with generalized linear models with gamma distribution and log link to account for the skewed distribution of costs.29 The models adjusted for sex, age category, and geographic region, with year as the primary predictor. The models did not adjust for comorbidity because changes in costs for COPD care year over year might be related to management of associated comorbid conditions. The authors did not want to “control away” differences in comorbid status that are clinically associated with COPD. A threshold of P < 0.05 was used to define statistical significance. The multivariate models were fit by Stata 10.0 (Stata-Corp, College Station, TX) software, and all other analyses were conducted using SAS® 9.1 (SAS Institute, Cary, NC).

Results

Patient characteristics

Demographics and comorbidities of the commercial and Medicare Advantage COPD patient cohorts in 2009 are shown in Table 1. Characteristics of the patient cohorts from years 2006 through 2008 are shown in Appendix 1. Across each year studied, demographic characteristics of commercial cohorts were similar to each other and characteristics of Medicare Advantage cohorts were similar to each other. The highest proportion of patients was from the South region for all commercial and Medicare Advantage cohorts, which reflects the distribution of patients in the overall database population. In each year studied, the mean age of the Medicare Advantage cohort was approximately 10 years older than that of the commercial cohort, as expected.

Table 1

Characteristics of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and commercial insurance or Medicare

	2009
	Commercial (N = 51,210)		Medicare (N = 42,166)
	n	%	n	%
Male	24,597	48.0	18,503	43.9
Region
Northeast	5168	10.1	5262	12.5
Midwest	11,972	23.4	14,880	35.3
South	27,345	53.4	18,499	43.9
West	6725	13.1	3525	8.4
Age group
40–49	5581	10.9	717	1.7
50–64	26,933	52.6	5493	13.0
65–74	9919	19.4	17,605	41.8
≥75	8777	17.1	18,351	43.5
Age; mean, SD	62.7	11.1	72.7	9.2
Comorbidities
Asthma	16,148	31.5	12,318	29.2
Chronic bronchitis	22,365	43.7	19,324	45.8
Emphysema	9711	19.0	9343	22.2
Chronic airway obstructiona	43,045	84.1	38,821	92.1
Quan-Charlson index; mean, SD	2.5	1.9	3.3	2.3

Note: Not elsewhere specified.

Abbreviation: SD, standard deviation.

Appendix 1

Characteristics of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by insurance type

	2006		2007				2008
	Commercial (N = 47,147)		Commercial (N = 49,661)		Medicare (N = 24,222)		Commercial (N = 52,056)		Medicare (N = 30,183)
	n	%	n	%	n	%	n	%	n	%
Male	23,014	48.8	24,080	48.5	10,783	44.5	25,126	48.3	13,308	44.1
Region
Northeast	5240	11.1	5496	11.1	2638	10.9	5541	10.6	3505	11.6
Midwest	12,966	27.5	12,412	25.0	10,705	44.2	12,760	24.5	11,579	38.4
South	21,970	46.6	25,250	50.8	10,109	41.7	26,861	51.6	13,501	44.7
West	6971	14.8	6503	13.1	770	3.2	6894	13.2	1598	5.3
Age group
40–49	6269	13.3	5972	12.0	360	1.5	5776	11.1	466	1.5
50–64	24,864	52.7	25,789	51.9	2648	10.9	26,851	51.6	3703	12.3
65–74	8670	18.4	9619	19.4	9767	40.3	10,454	20.1	12,089	40.1
≥75	7344	15.6	8281	16.7	11,447	47.3	8975	17.2	13,925	46.1
Age; mean, SD	61.8	11.0	62.4	11.1	73.4	8.7	62.7	11.1	73.1	9.0
Comorbidities
Asthma	15,355	32.6	15,905	32.0	6572	27.1	16,714	32.1	8423	27.9
Chronic bronchitis	20,068	42.6	20,942	42.2	10,225	42.2	22,929	44.0	13,907	46.1
Emphysema	9494	20.1	9861	19.9	5444	22.5	10,045	19.3	6863	22.7
Chronic airway obstructiona	38,904	82.5	41,537	83.6	22,260	91.9	43,441	83.5	27,746	91.9
Quan-Charlson index; mean, SD	2.3	1.8	2.4	1.9	3.2	2.2	2.4	1.9	3.3	2.3

Note: Not elsewhere specified.

Abbreviation: SD, standard deviation.

Within each year, the proportions of patients with the respiratory comorbidities noted in Table 1 were similar between the commercial and Medicare Advantage samples. Patients in the Medicare cohort had more comorbidities than the commercial cohort as evidenced by higher mean Quan-Charlson comorbidity index score. This relationship held true over time. Approximately 30% of patients in the commercial and Medicare Advantage cohorts in each year had evidence of comorbid asthma.

Patient-level costs of COPD

Mean annual COPD-related health care costs for each commercial insurance and Medicare Advantage cohort are shown in Figure 1. Medical costs, which comprise amounts paid for facility and physician services, accounted for the majority of total costs in all cohorts. COPD-related medical costs were approximately 16%–19% lower for Medicare than commercial cohorts, and total costs were approximately 7%–10% lower for Medicare than commercial cohorts in each year that both insurance types were studied.

Figure 1

Mean annual unadjusted patient-level chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-related health care costs for patients with commercial insurance or Medicare Advantage.

Note: Costs are adjusted to year 2008 and are in USD.

Based on the multivariate analysis, total costs increased over time for both Medicare Advantage and commercial insurance patients after adjustment for age, sex, and region. The rate of increase for total costs was approximately 6% per year for commercial insurance patients and 5% per year for Medicare Advantage patients (Table 2). Both pharmacy and medical costs increased significantly over time for the commercial population, but only medical costs increased significantly for the Medicare Advantage population (Table 2). Pharmacy costs accounted for a small proportion of total COPD costs for both cohorts.

Table 2

Adjusted chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-related subject-level and visit-level cost ratios with year as primary predictor

	Commercial 2006–2009		P	Medicare 2007–2009		P
	Cost ratio	95% CI		Cost ratio	95% CI
Subject level
Medical	1.06	1.04–1.09	< 0.0001	1.07	1.05–1.10	<0.001
Pharmacy	1.05	1.04–1.05	< 0.0001	0.99	0.98–1.00	0.17
Total	1.06	1.04–1.07	< 0.0001	1.05	1.03–1.07	<0.001
Visit level
Outpatient	1.06	1.04–1.07	< 0.0001	1.02	1.00–1.04	0.05
Urgent outpatient	1.07	1.05–1.10	< 0.0001	1.09	1.04–1.14	0.001
Emergency department	1.04	1.02–1.06	0.001	1.06	1.03–1.09	<0.001
Standard admission	1.01	0.98–1.03	0.59	1.03	1.00–1.05	0.03
Intensive care unit	1.02	0.97–1.08	0.38	1.00	0.93–1.08	0.97

Notes: Generalized linear models adjusted for age, sex, and region. Total costs increased by approximately 6% per year for commercial insurance patients and 5% per year for Medicare patients.

Abbreviation: CI, confidence interval.

For Medicare Advantage patients, mean (and standard deviation) cost associated with oxygen use increased from US$758 (US$3595) in 2007 to US$871 (US$3095) in 2009. Over the same time period, mean cost associated with oxygen use increased from US$459 (US$2155) to US$501 (US$2897) for patients with commercial insurance.

Visit-level costs of COPD

Mean costs of nonhospital COPD-related visits by year and insurance type are shown in Figure 2, and costs of standard admissions and ICU visits are shown in Figure 3. Commercially insured patients accounted for greater costs than Medicare Advantage patients for ambulatory visits, standard admissions, and ICU care, whereas Medicare patients accounted for greater ED costs than commercial patients. Cost values are shown in Appendix 2.

Figure 2

Mean unadjusted visit-level costs of nonhospital chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-related visits in 2006 through 2009 for patients with commercial insurance or Medicare Advantage.

Note: Costs are adjusted to year 2008 and are in USD.

Figure 3

Mean unadjusted visit-level costs of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-related standard admission (no intensive care unit) and intensive care unit visits in 2006 through 2009 for patients with commercial insurance or Medicare Advantage.

Note: Costs are adjusted to year 2008 and are in USD.

Appendix 2

Unadjusted visit-level costs of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-related visits in 2006 through 2009 for patients with commercial insurance or Medicare Advantage

Visit type	Year	Commercial					Medicare
		Mean	SD	25th percentile	Median	75th percentile	Mean	SD	25th percentile	Median	75th percentile
Outpatient	2006	306	1366	54	89	171	–	–	–	–	–
	2007	313	1284	55	90	175	178	614	59	87	122
	2008	332	1475	56	93	180	183	667	58	86	121
	2009	363	1638	58	95	185	186	628	58	86	120
Urgent outpatient	2006	277	1208	57	92	158	–	–	–	–	–
	2007	279	1253	57	91	157	230	1050	60	89	124
	2008	309	1364	59	94	165	248	1159	59	87	122
	2009	340	1572	61	97	168	266	1244	61	87	123
Emergency department	2006	315	460	109	226	394	–	–	–	–	–
	2007	302	388	115	233	389	375	451	89	265	488
	2008	332	348	156	274	428	409	463	126	296	532
	2009	345	331	158	290	454	429	504	157	309	567
Standard admission	2006	9799	13,644	3078	6246	10,492	–	–	–	–	–
	2007	10,579	19,850	2906	6337	10,890	6968	6283	4907	5677	6910
	2008	9936	12,783	3206	6913	11,522	7353	7289	4707	5856	7518
	2009	10,170	12,755	3598	6958	11,453	7430	6098	4593	6059	8122
Intensive care unit	2006	35,583	73,705	6308	12,061	34,114	–	–	–	–	–
	2007	38,438	91,401	6613	13,854	33,135	14,085	31,018	5517	6573	12,289
	2008	38,198	81,996	7198	14,367	32,669	14,532	20,966	5714	7407	13,880
	2009	39,229	78,548	7927	14,560	35,979	14,112	22,885	5553	7824	12,650

Note: All values are USD.

Abbreviation: SD, standard deviation.

After adjustment for age, sex, and region; costs for outpatient, urgent outpatient, and ED visits increased significantly over time in both populations (Table 2). The rate of increase for outpatient visit costs was approximately 6% per year for commercial patients, but only 2% per year for Medicare Advantage patients (Table 2). Costs for standard admissions increased significantly over time for patients with Medicare, but not for those with commercial insurance, and costs for ICU care remained stable for both populations.

COPD readmissions

Among patients with a standard admission or ICU stay (eg, in 2009, 7.5% [3852/51,210] of commercially insured patients and 10.7% [4511/42,166] of Medicare Advantage patients had at least one inpatient visit), the proportion with a readmission during the study year ranged from 13%–14% for the commercial population and 16%–19% for the Medicare Advantage population, depending on the year (2006–2009). Of all readmit visits among commercially insured patients, approximately 31%–34% (depending on the year) occurred within 30 days of the initial admission and 47%–49% occurred within 60 days (the number of readmit visits within 60 days includes the number that occurred within 30 days of the initial admission). Similarly, 30%–32% (depending on the year) of readmit visits among Medicare Advantage patients occurred within 30 days of the initial admission, and 49%–52% occurred within 60 days.

Discussion

Annual per-patient COPD-related total direct health care costs increased over time: by approximately 6% per year for commercially insured patients from 2006 through 2009 and 5% per year for Medicare Advantage patients from 2007 through 2009, after adjustment. Medical costs accounted for the majority of patient-level costs among both commercially insured patients and those with Medicare. Costs per inpatient care episode were substantial and relatively stable, except for an increase in standard admission costs for Medicare Advantage patients.

Hospital-perspective data from 2005 through 2008 produced similar visit-level results.16 Relative to 2005, hospital costs for a standard admission were 6%–11% higher and ED costs were 4%–10% higher over the period 2006 through 2008, but a consistent upward trend was not evident.16 Hospital costs for encounters with ICU or intubation varied by less than 3% from 2005 through 2008,16 which is consistent with the findings of this present study that total payer- and patient-paid ICU costs did not increase significantly over the studied period. Notwithstanding this lack of increase, ICU stays were expensive for both the commercial and Medicare Advantage populations. ICU visit costs for commercially insured patients were more than double the costs for patients on Medicare Advantage. Possible reasons for this discrepancy include Medicare cost control and the difference in age between the populations. The commercial patients were younger on average, and it is possible that younger patients receive more aggressive or costly care independent of insurance type. However, this study did not address these possible explanations and additional research is needed.

It would be of interest to compare costs between Medicare and commercial enrollees aged 65 and older, but cost differences are difficult to parse out due to differences in the populations as well as because of how costs are calculated. The age 65 and older commercial population consists of patients still working, retirees, and patients with spouses who retain commercial insurance. Because commercial benefits are coordinated with Medicare, costs (primarily for hospitalization services, but in some cases for Part B services) are necessarily calculated using an estimator of the contribution of Medicare to paid amounts. Addressing this complex issue was beyond the scope of the study.

The data provide a benchmark for assessing the impact of changes in COPD management practices. Because ICU stays and hospitalizations for patients with COPD can often be the result of exacerbations, reducing the frequency of severe exacerbations could help to control COPD-related costs. Treatments that reduce the frequency of COPD-related hospitalizations or exacerbations11 are also associated with lower COPD-related medical costs, and in some cases lower total COPD-related costs.30,31 Additional research is needed to investigate the interrelationships among treatment for COPD, risk of exacerbation and hospitalization, and costs.

Like previous studies, patients in this present analysis had a high rate of readmissions, and many of these visits occurred within a month of the index visit. An analysis of Medicare claims from 2003 through 2004 reported a readmission rate of 23% for patients with an initial admission for COPD.32 Patients with an initial COPD-related admission accounted for 4% of all rehospitalizations observed in that study, and COPD was the third most common index condition associated with rehospitalization, after heart failure and pneumonia.32 Records from five New York City hospitals indicate that 22% of hospitalizations for COPD exacerbations in a 2-year period are repeat admissions; 17.6% of patients are readmitted at least once.33 Hospital data from 2008 indicate that between 15% and 18% of patients with an initial ED or inpatient visit for COPD have a repeat visit within 60 days.16,17 Given the high rate of hospitalization of patients with COPD, interventions aimed at reducing the need for COPD-related admissions and readmissions may help to lessen resource use and costs for this patient population.

Like all retrospective claims-based studies, this study is limited by constraints of the data source, and results must be interpreted in the context of these limitations. Claims are collected for payment, not research, and coding errors are possible. Although this present analysis included only direct costs, indirect costs of COPD are also substantial,2,23,34 and the results of this present study are likely to underestimate the overall burden of COPD. Clinical measures of COPD severity were not available in the dataset, and thus the influence of severity on annual or visit costs could not be determined. The results might not generalize to uninsured patients or patients in areas with limited access to medical care. Finally, each calendar year-based cohort was identified separately – patients were not examined longitudinally – and there is overlap between cohorts from year to year.

Conclusion

The economic burden of COPD on patients and payers grew from 2006 through 2009, and much of these costs are attributable to medical expenses. This information can be used to evaluate the effect of changes in the practice of COPD management. Improved symptom management could reduce demand for high-cost medical resources, such as ICU care, and reduce overall COPD-related costs.