Extrafine single inhaler triple therapy effectiveness in COPD patients previously treated with multiple-inhaler triple therapy: the TRIWIN study.

BACKGROUND: The extrafine single inhaler triple therapy (efSITT) containing beclomethasone dipropionate/formoterol fumarate/glycopyrronium 87/5/9 µg has proved to be efficacious in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in randomized control trials. OBJECTIVE: TRIWIN study evaluated the effectiveness of efSITT delivering beclomethasone dipropionate/formoterol fumarate/glycopyrronium 87/5/9 µg in COPD patients previously treated with multiple-inhaler triple therapy (MITT) in a real-world study in Greece. DESIGN: Prospective, multicenter, observational, non-interventional study was conducted over 24 weeks. METHODS: A total of 475 eligible patients had moderate-to-severe COPD, an indication for treatment with efSITT, and were symptomatic despite receiving MITT. COPD Assessment Test (CAT) score, pulmonary function parameters, use of rescue medication, and adherence to inhaler use were recorded at baseline (Visit 1), 3 (Visit 2), and 6 months (Visit 3) after treatment. RESULTS: Mean CAT score decreased from 21.4 points at Visit 1, to 16.6 at Visit 2 and 15.1 at Visit 3 (p < 0.001 for all pair comparisons). At Visit 3, 79.8% of patients reached a CAT improvement exceeding minimal clinically important difference (⩾2), compared to baseline. Mean forced expiratory volume in 1 s (%pred.) increased from 55.4% at Visit 1 to 63.5% at the end of study period (p < 0.001), while mean forced vital capacity (%pred.) increased from 71.1% at Visit 1, to 76.7% at Visit 3 (p < 0.001). The mean Test of Adherence to Inhalers score increased from 42.5 to 45.3 and 46.3 points, for the three visits, respectively (p < 0.001 comparing Visits 1/2 and Visits 1/3; p = 0.006 comparing Visits 2/3). The percentage of patients showing good adherence rose from 33.7% at baseline to 58.3% at Visit 3. The percentage of patients using rescue medication during the last month dropped from 16.2% to 7.4% at the end of study period (p < 0.001). Pulmonary function parameters also improved. CONCLUSION: The TRIWIN results suggest that extrafine beclomethasone dipropionate/formoterol fumarate/glycopyrronium is effective in improving health status, pulmonary function, and adherence and in reducing rescue medication use in COPD patients previously treated with MITT, in a real-world setting in Greece.

Comparing Costs and Healthcare Resource Utilization (HCRU) Using LAMA versus LABA/ICS at Treatment Initiation for COPD: Findings from CITRUS (Comparing the Incidence of Tiotropium and ICS/LABA in Real-World Use in South Korea) Study.

Background: COPD causes substantial economic burden on healthcare. Alternative treatment strategies for COPD can be associated with different costs dependent upon their relative safety and effectiveness. We compared costs and healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) associated with LAMA or LABA/ICS initiation. Methods: Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database, we enrolled COPD patients initiating treatment with LAMA or LABA/ICS between January 2005 and April 2015. Propensity score matched individuals were compared on all-cause and COPD-related medical costs and HCRU over a three-year follow-up period. Results: A total of 2444 patients were enrolled in each treatment group. LAMA group was associated with significantly lower costs than LABA/ICS group, both in all-cause (403.08 vs 474.50 USD per patient per month [PPPM], cost ratio 1.18, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.10-1.26, p<0.0001) and COPD-related (216.37 vs 267.32 USD PPPM, cost ratio 1.24, 95% CI=1.13-1.35, p<0.0001) medical costs. All-cause HCRU was not significantly different between groups, while COPD-related HRCU was higher in LAMA group (0.66 vs 0.60 medical visits PPPM, p<0.0001). Conclusion: COPD patients initiating treatment with LAMA were associated with lower all-cause and COPD-related medical costs than those starting with LABA/ICS despite the similar all-cause HCRU and higher COPD-related HCRU. Initiation with LAMA is a cost-efficient option for the treatment of COPD.

Comparative effectiveness and safety of triple therapy and non-triple therapy interventions for COPD: an overview of systematic reviews.

BACKGROUND: Some systematic reviews (SRs) on triple therapy (consisting of long-acting ß2-agonist, long-acting muscarinic antagonist, and inhaled corticosteroid, LABA/LAMA/ICS) for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have reported conflicting results. As the number of syntheses increases, the task of identifying and interpreting evidence becomes increasingly complex and demanding. OBJECTIVES: To provide a comprehensive overview of the efficacy and safety of triple therapy for COPD. DESIGN: Overview of SRs. METHODS: Two independent reviewers conducted comprehensive searches in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library to identify relevant SRs that compared triple therapy with any non-triple therapy for COPD, from the inception of these databases until 1 June 2023. The AMSTAR 2 and GRADE tools were utilized to assess the quality of the included studies and the evidence for each outcome. RESULTS: Eighteen SRs encompassing 30 original studies and involving 47,340 participants were analyzed. The overall AMSTAR 2 rating revealed that 3 SRs were of low quality, 13 SRs were of critically low quality, and 2 SRs were of high quality. No high-certainty evidence revealed a significant advantage of triple therapy in improving lung function or reducing acute exacerbations. However, all evidence, including one high certainty, supported the benefits of improving quality of life. Regarding all-cause mortality, no significant difference was found when compared to LAMA or ICS/LABA; however, high-certainty evidence confirmed its effectiveness when compared with LABA/LAMA. Notably, high-certainty evidence indicated that triple therapy was associated with a significant increase in the risk of pneumonia compared to LABA/LAMA. CONCLUSION: Triple therapy demonstrated notable benefits in improving lung function, reducing exacerbations, improving quality of life, and reducing all-cause mortality. However, it is important to note that it may also significantly increase the risk of pneumonia. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This overview protocol was prospectively registered with PROSPERO (No. CRD42023431548).

Prescription patterns and effectiveness of medications for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A retrospective study of real-world settings.

This study aimed to define real-world prescription patterns in Korea and compare the effectiveness of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) medications. We used national claims data provided by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service in Korea and examined patients who were first diagnosed with COPD and started treatment between May 1, 2017, and April 30, 2018, with no change in drug regimen. Among 30,784 patients with COPD, long-acting ß2 agonist (LABA) combined with long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) (32.7%), inhaled corticosteroid-LABA (ICS-LABA) (25.6%), LAMA (18.3%), ICS (5.8%), or LABA (4.6%) were prescribed as the first-choice inhalers. The use of LABA-LAMA (hazard ratio [HR], 0.248-0.584), LAMA (HR, 0.320-0.641), ICS-LABA (HR, 0.325-0.643), and xanthine (HR, 0.563-0.828) significantly reduced the total and severe exacerbation rates compared with no use of each medication. However, the use of ICS or LABA individually did not yield such effects. The continued use of LABA-LAMA, LAMA, and ICS-LABA showed a significant effect on exacerbation rate, whereas the long-term use of ICS, LABA, and xanthine did not. Moreover, some high doses of ICS-LABA did not show significant effects. This real-world study revealed that LAMA and/or LABA could be the first choice of therapy, as recommended by recent guidelines. However, ICS, xanthine, and high-dose ICS-LABA are still being prescribed frequently as first-line drugs in Korea.

Asthma management with triple ICS/LABA/LAMA combination to reduce the risk of exacerbation: an umbrella review compliant with the PRIOR statement.

INTRODUCTION: According to Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines, long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMAs) should be considered as add-on therapy in patients with asthma that remains uncontrolled, despite treatment with medium-dose (MD) or high-dose (HD) inhaled corticosteroids (ICS)/long-acting ß2-agonist (LABA) combinations. In patients ≥ 18 years, LAMA may be added in triple combination with an ICS and a LABA. To date, the precise efficacy of triple ICS/LABA/LAMA combination remains uncertain concerning the impact on exacerbation risk in patients with uncontrolled asthma. Therefore, an umbrella review was performed to systematically summarize available data on the effect of triple ICS/LABA/LAMA combination on the risk of asthma exacerbation. METHODS: An umbrella review has been performed according to the PRIOR statement. RESULTS: The overall results obtained from 5 systematic reviews and meta-analyses suggest that triple ICS/LABA/LAMA combination reduces the risk of asthma exacerbation. HD-ICS showed a greater effect particularly in reducing severe asthma exacerbation, especially in patients with evidence of type 2 inflammation biomarkers. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this umbrella review suggest an optimization of ICS dose in triple ICS/LABA/LAMA combination, based on the severity of exacerbation and type 2 biomarkers expression.

ROS-mediated regulation of ß2AR function: Does oxidation play a meaningful role towards ß2-agonist tachyphylaxis in airway obstructive diseases?

ß2-adrenergic receptor (ß2AR) agonists are the clinical gold standard for treatment and prophylaxis of airway constriction in pulmonary obstructive diseases such as asthma and COPD. Inhaled ß2-agonists elicit rapid bronchorelaxation of the airway smooth muscle, yet, clinical tachyphylaxis to this response can occur over repeated and chronic use, which reduces the bronchodilatory effectiveness. Several mechanisms have been proposed to impart ß2-agonist tachyphylaxis, most notably ß2AR desensitization. However, airway tissue is known to be highly oxidative, particularly in obstructive disease states where reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation is upregulated and ROS degradation is suboptimal yielding a large oxidative burden. Recent evidence demonstrates that ß2AR can regulate ROS generation and that ROS can post-translationally alter ß2AR cysteine residues via oxidation, leading to distinct functional receptor outcomes. Herein, we discuss the growing evidence for ß2AR mediated ROS generation in airway cells and the role of ROS in regulating ß2AR via cysteine-oxidation of the receptor. Given the functional consequence of the ß2AR-ROS signaling axis in the airways, we also discuss the potential role of ROS in mediating ß2-agonist tachyphylaxis.

Discovery, Multiparametric Optimization, and Solid-State Driven Identification of CHF-6550, a Novel Soft Dual Pharmacology Muscarinic Antagonist and ß2 Agonist (MABA) for the Inhaled Treatment of Respiratory Diseases.

Clinical guidelines for COPD and asthma recommend inhaled ß-adrenergic agonists, muscarinic antagonists, and, for frequent exacerbators, inhaled corticosteroids, with the challenge of combining them into a single device. The MABA (muscarinic antagonist and ß2 agonist) concept has the potential to simplify this complexity while increasing the efficacy of both pharmacologies. In this article, we report the outcome of our solid-state driven back-up program that led to the discovery of the MABA compound CHF-6550. A soft drug approach was applied, aiming at high plasma protein binding and high hepatic clearance, concurrently with an early stage assessment of crystallinity through a dedicated experimental workflow. A new chemotype was identified, the diphenyl hydroxyacetic esters, able to generate crystalline material. Among this class, CHF-6550 demonstrated in vivo efficacy, suitability for dry powder inhaler development, favorable pharmacokinetics, and safety in preclinical settings and was selected as a back-up candidate, fulfilling the desired pharmacological and solid-state profile.

Real-world characteristics of patients with asthma initiating fluticasone furoate/umeclidinium/vilanterol single-inhaler triple therapy in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Real-world data assessing characteristics of patients with asthma initiating inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting muscarinic antagonist/long-acting ß2-agonist (ICS/LAMA/LABA) triple therapy in Japan are limited. METHODS: Descriptive, observational study of patients with asthma aged ≥15 years newly initiating single- or multiple-inhaler triple therapy (SITT: fluticasone furoate/umeclidinium/vilanterol [FF/UMEC/VI], SITT: indacaterol/glycopyrronium bromide/mometasone furoate [IND/GLY/MF] or MITT) or ICS/LABA using JMDC/Medical Data Vision (MDV) health insurance databases from February 2021-February 2022 (first prescription date: index date). Patients were assigned to three non-mutually exclusive cohorts: A) new FF/UMEC/VI initiators; B) new FF/UMEC/VI, IND/GLY/MF, or MITT initiators; C) new FF/UMEC/VI, IND/GLY/MF, MITT or ICS/LABA initiators as initial maintenance therapy (IMT). Patient characteristics were assessed descriptively for 12-months pre-treatment initiation (baseline period). RESULTS: Cohort A: among new FF/UMEC/VI initiators, 12.8% and 0.1% (JMDC) and 21.7% and 0.9% (MDV) of patients had ≥1 moderate and severe exacerbation; 52.0% (JMDC) and 79.2% (MDV) had ICS/LABA use. Cohort B: most patients initiated FF/UMEC/VI and IND/GLY/MF over MITT (JMDC: 91.3% vs 8.7%; MDV: 67.8% vs 32.2%), with fewer exacerbations and lower rescue medication use. Cohort C: a greater proportion of FF/UMEC/VI initiators as IMT experienced a moderate exacerbation at index versus ICS/LABA initiators as IMT (JMDC: 17.8% vs 10.7%; MDV: 8.0% vs 5.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Patient characteristics were generally similar between treatment groups; SITT initiators had fewer exacerbations and lower rescue medication use than MITT initiators, represented by the greater proportion of IMT among SITT versus MITT initiators. Physicians may have prescribed triple over dual therapy as IMT in response to an exacerbation.

Budesonide/Glycopyrrolate/Formoterol for the Management of COPD in a UK Primary Care Population: Real-World Use and Early Medication Success.

Purpose: Real-life research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of budesonide/glycopyrrolate/formoterol (BGF) in routine COPD primary care management. We assessed the frequency of medication success among patients with COPD who initiated BGF using real-world data. Patients and Methods: Patients with a recorded diagnostic COPD code who started BGF with ≥2 prescriptions within 90-days were identified in the UK Optimum Patient Care Research Database and followed from first prescription until censoring at the end of follow-up (180-days), death, leaving database or end of data at 24/10/2022. The primary outcome was medication success at 90-days post-BGF initiation, defined as no major cardiac or respiratory event (ie no complicated COPD exacerbation, hospitalization for any respiratory event, myocardial infarction, new/hospitalized heart failure, and death) and no incidence of pneumonia. Medication success was also assessed at 180-days post-BGF initiation. Overall real-life medication success was claimed if the lower 95% confidence interval (CI) for the proportion of patients meeting the primary outcome was ≥70% (defined a priori). Results: Two hundred eighty-five patients were included. Prior to BGF initiation, these patients often had severe airflow obstruction (mean ppFEV1: 54.5%), were highly symptomatic (mMRC ≥2: 77.9% (n = 205/263); mean CAT score: 21.7 (SD 7.8)), with evidence of short-acting ß2-agonist (SABA) over-use (≥3 inhalers/year: 62.1%, n=179/285), repeat OCS prescriptions (≥2 courses/year: 33.0%, n = 95/285) and multiple primary care consultations (≥2 visits/year: 61.1%, n = 174/285). Overall, 39.6% of patients (n = 113/285) switched from previous triple therapies. Real-life medication success was achieved by 96.5% of patients (n = 275/285 [95% CI: 93.6, 98.3]) during 90-days treatment with BGF and by 91.8% (n = 169/184 [95% CI: 86.9, 95.4]) of patients at 180-days. The prescribed daily dose of SABA remained stable over the study period. Conclusion: The majority of patients initiating BGF experienced real-life medication success reflecting the absence of severe cardiopulmonary events. These benefits were apparent after 90-days of treatment and sustained over 180-days.

Triple Therapy and Clinical Control in B+ COPD Patients: A Pragmatic, Prospective, Randomized Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Treatment with LABA/LAMA is recommended in GOLD B patients. We hypothesized that triple therapy (LABA/LAMA/ICS) will be superior to LABA/LAMA in achieving and maintaining clinical control (CC), a composite outcome that considers both impact and disease stability in a subgroup of GOLD B patients (here termed GOLD B+ patients) characterized by: (1) remaining symptomatic (CAT≥10) despite regular LABA/LAMA therapy; (2) having suffered one moderate exacerbation in the previous year; and (3) having blood eosinophil counts (BEC) ≥150cells/µL. METHODS: The ANTES B+ study is a prospective, multicenter, open label, randomized, pragmatic, controlled trial designed to test this hypothesis. It will randomize 1028 B+ patients to continue with their usual LABA/LAMA combination prescribed by their attending physician or to begin fluticasone furoate (FF) 92µg/umeclidinium (UMEC) 55µg/vilanterol (VI) 22µg in a single inhaler q.d. for 12 months. The primary efficacy outcome will be the level of CC achieved. Secondary outcomes include the clinical important deterioration index (CID), annual rate of exacerbations, and FEV1. Exploratory objectives include the interaction of BEC and smoking status, all-cause mortality and proportion of patients on LABA/LAMA arm that switch therapy arms. Safety analysis include adverse events and incidence of pneumonia. RESULTS: The first patient was recruited on February 29, 2024; results are expected in the first quarter of 2026. CONCLUSIONS: The ANTES B+ study is the first to: (1) explore the efficacy and safety of triple therapy in a population of B+ COPD patients and (2) use a composite index (CC) as the primary result of a COPD trial.

SABINA + Hong Kong: a territory wide study of prescribing trends and outcomes associated with the use of short-acting ß2 agonists in the Chinese population.

BACKGROUND: Excessive use of short-acting ß2 agonists (SABA) in patients with asthma continues to be a notable concern due to its link to higher mortality rates. Global relevance of SABA overuse in asthma management cannot be understated, it poses significant health risk to patients with asthma and imposes burden on healthcare systems. This study, as part of global SABINA progamme, aimed to describe the prescribing patterns and clinical outcomes associated with SABA use in the Chinese population. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study was conducted using anonymized electronic healthcare records of Clinical Data Analysis and Reporting System (CDARS) from Hong Kong Hospital Authority (HA). Patients newly diagnosed with asthma between 2011 and 2018 and aged ≥12 years were included, stratified by SABA use (≤2, 3-6, 7-10, or ≥11 canisters/year) during one-year baseline period since asthma diagnosis date. Patients were followed up from one-year post-index until earliest censoring of events: outcome occurrence and end of study period (31 December 2020). Cox proportional regression and negative binomial regression were used to estimate the mortality risk and frequency of hospital admissions associated with SABA use respectively, after adjusting for age, sex, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), and inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) dose. Outcomes include all-cause, asthma-related, and respiratory-related mortality, frequency of hospital admissions for any cause, and frequency of hospital admissions due to asthma. RESULTS: 17,782 patients with asthma (mean age 46.7 years, 40.8% male) were included and 59.1% of patients were overusing SABA (≥ 3 canisters per year). Each patient was prescribed a median of 5.61 SABA canisters/year. SABA overuse during baseline period was associated with higher all-cause mortality risk compared to patients with ≤2 canisters/year. Association was dose-dependent, highest risk in those used ≥11 canisters/year (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.13, 1.79) and 3-6 canisters/year (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.50). Higher SABA prescription volume associated with increased frequency of hospital admissions with greatest risk observed in 7-10 canisters/year subgroup (adjusted rate ratio: 4.81, 95% CI: 3.66, 6.37). CONCLUSIONS: SABA overuse is prevalent and is associated with increased all-cause mortality risk and frequency of hospital admissions among the patients with asthma in Hong Kong.

The effect of inhaler prescription on the development of lung cancer in COPD: a nationwide population-based study.

BACKGROUND: COPD is associated with the development of lung cancer. A protective effect of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) on lung cancer is still controversial. Hence, this study investigated the development of lung cancer according to inhaler prescription and comorbidties in COPD. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted based on the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service database. The development of lung cancer was investigated from the index date to December 31, 2020. This cohort included COPD patients (≥ 40 years) with new prescription of inhalers. Patients with a previous history of any cancer during screening period or a switch of inhaler after the index date were excluded. RESULTS: Of the 63,442 eligible patients, 39,588 patients (62.4%) were in the long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) and long-acting ß2-agonist (LABA) group, 22,718 (35.8%) in the ICS/LABA group, and 1,136 (1.8%) in the LABA group. Multivariate analysis showed no significant difference in the development of lung cancer according to inhaler prescription. Multivariate analysis, adjusted for age, sex, and significant factors in the univariate analysis, demonstrated that diffuse interstitial lung disease (DILD) (HR = 2.68; 95%CI = 1.86-3.85), a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index score (HR = 1.05; 95%CI = 1.01-1.08), and two or more hospitalizations during screening period (HR = 1.19; 95%CI = 1.01-1.39), along with older age and male sex, were independently associated with the development of lung cancer. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that the development of lung cancer is not independently associated with inhaler prescription, but with coexisting DILD, a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index score, and frequent hospitalization.

A network meta-analysis of the association between patient traits and response to regular dosing with ICS plus short-acting ß2-agonist reliever or ICS/formoterol reliever only in mild asthma.

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND: Mild asthma treatment recommendations include intermittent inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)/formoterol dosing or regular ICS dosing with short-acting ß2-agonist reliever. Due to the heterogeneity of asthma, identification of traits associated with improved outcomes to specific treatments would be clinically beneficial. AIMS/OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of patient traits on treatment outcomes of regular ICS dosing compared with intermittent ICS/formoterol dosing, a systematic literature review (SLR) and network meta-analysis (NMA) was conducted. Searches identified randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of patients with asthma aged ≥12 years, containing ≥1 regular ICS dosing or intermittent ICS/formoterol dosing treatment arm, reporting traits and outcomes of interest. RESULTS: The SLR identified 11 RCTs of mild asthma, of 14,516 patients. A total of 11 traits and 11 outcomes of interest were identified. Of these, a feasibility assessment indicated possible assessment of three traits (age, baseline lung function, smoking history) and two outcomes (exacerbation rate, change in lung function). The NMA found no significant association of any trait with any outcome with regular ICS dosing relative to intermittent ICS/formoterol dosing. Inconsistent reporting of traits and outcomes between RCTs limited analysis. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first systematic analysis of associations between patient traits and differential treatment outcomes in mild asthma. Although the traits analysed were not found to significantly interact with relative treatment response, inconsistent reporting from the RCTs prevented assessment of some of the most clinically relevant traits and outcomes, such as adherence. More consistent reporting of respiratory RCTs would provide more comparable data and aid future analyses.

Development and validation of a claims-based algorithm to identify moderate exacerbations in patients with asthma treated in the US.

INTRODUCTION: Definitions of moderate asthma exacerbation have been inconsistent, making their economic burden difficult to assess. An algorithm to accurately identify moderate exacerbations from claims data is needed. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of Reliant Medical Group patients aged ≥18 years, with ≥1 prescription claim for inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting ß2-agonist, and ≥1 medical claim with a diagnosis code for asthma was conducted. The objective was to refine current algorithms to identify moderate exacerbations in claims data and assess the refined algorithm's performance. Positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV) were assessed via chart review of 150 moderate exacerbations events and 50 patients without exacerbations. Sensitivity analyses assessed alternative algorithms and compared healthcare resource utilization (HRU) between algorithm-identified patients (claims group) and those confirmed by chart review (confirmed group) to have experienced a moderate exacerbation. RESULTS: Algorithm-identified moderate exacerbations were: visit of ≤1 day with an asthma exacerbation diagnosis OR visit of ≤1 day with selected asthma diagnoses AND ≥1 respiratory pharmacy claim, excluding systemic corticosteroids, within 14 days after the first claim. The algorithm's PPV was 42%; the NPV was 78%. HRU was similar for both groups. CONCLUSION: This algorithm identified potential moderate exacerbations from claims data; however, the modest PPV underscores its limitations in identifying moderate exacerbations, although performance was partially due to identification of previously unidentified severe exacerbations. Application of this algorithm in future claims-based studies may help quantify the economic burden of moderate and severe exacerbations in asthma when an algorithm identifying severe exacerbations is applied first.

Frequency and economic burden of exacerbations in inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting beta-agonist-treated patients with asthma: A retrospective US claims study.

INTRODUCTION: Despite adherence to inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting ß2-agonist (ICS/LABA) therapy, many patients with asthma experience moderate exacerbations. Data on the impact of moderate exacerbations on the healthcare system are limited. This study assessed the frequency and economic burden of moderate exacerbations in patients receiving ICS/LABA. METHODS: Retrospective, longitudinal study analyzed data from Optum's de-identified Clinformatics® Data Mart Database recorded between October 1, 2015, and December 31, 2019. Eligibility criteria included patients ≥18 years of age with ≥1 ICS/LABA claim and ≥1 medical claim for asthma in the 12 months pre-index (first ICS/LABA claim). Primary objectives included describing moderate exacerbation frequency, and associated healthcare resource utilization (HRU) and costs. A secondary objective was assessing the relationship between moderate exacerbations and subsequent risk of severe exacerbations. Patients were stratified by moderate exacerbation frequency in the 12 months post index. Moderate exacerbations were identified using a newly developed algorithm. RESULTS: In the first 12 months post index 61.6% of patients experienced ≥1 moderate exacerbation. Mean number of asthma-related visits was 4.1 per person/year and median total asthma-related costs was $3544. HRU and costs increased with increasing exacerbation frequency. Outpatient and inpatient visits accounted for a similar proportion of these costs. Moderate exacerbations were associated with an increased rate and risk of future severe exacerbations (incidence rate ratio, 1.56; hazard ratio, 1.51 [both p < 0.001]). CONCLUSIONS: This study highlighted that a high proportion of patients continue to experience moderate exacerbations despite ICS/LABA therapy and subsequently experience increased economic burden and risk of future severe exacerbations.

Characteristics of Users and New Initiators of Single- and Multiple-Inhaler Triple Therapy for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Germany.

Purpose: To assess patient characteristics of users and new initiators of triple therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Germany. Patients and Methods: Retrospective cohort study of patients with COPD and ≥1 prescription for single-inhaler triple therapy (SITT; fluticasone furoate/umeclidinium/vilanterol [FF/UMEC/VI] or beclomethasone dipropionate/glycopyrronium bromide/formoterol [BDP/GLY/FOR]) or multiple-inhaler triple therapy (MITT), using data from the AOK PLUS German sickness fund (1 January 2015-31 December 2019). The index date was the first date of prescription for FF/UMEC/VI or BDP/GLY/FOR (SITT users), or the first date of overlap of inhaled corticosteroid, long-acting ß2-agonist, and long-acting muscarinic antagonist (MITT users). Two cohorts were defined: the prevalent cohort included all identified triple therapy users; the incident cohort included patients newly initiating triple therapy for the first time (no prior use of MITT or SITT in the last 2 years). Patient characteristics and treatment patterns were assessed on the index date and during the 24-month pre-index period. Results: In total, 18,630 patients were identified as prevalent triple therapy users (MITT: 17,945; FF/UMEC/VI: 700; BDP/GLY/FOR: 908; non-mutually exclusive) and 2932 patients were identified as incident triple therapy initiators (MITT: 2246; FF/UMEC/VI: 311; BDP/GLY/FOR: 395; non-mutually exclusive). For both the prevalent and incident cohorts, more than two-thirds of patients experienced ≥1 moderate/severe exacerbation in the preceding 24 months; in both cohorts more BDP/GLY/FOR users experienced ≥1 moderate/severe exacerbation, compared with FF/UMEC/VI and MITT users. Overall, 97.9% of prevalent triple therapy users and 86.4% of incident triple therapy initiators received maintenance treatment in the 24-month pre-index period. Conclusion: In a real-world setting in Germany, triple therapy was most frequently used after maintenance therapy in patients with recent exacerbations, in line with current treatment recommendations.

Triple therapy (a combination of three different respiratory inhaled medications) is recommended for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who experience repeated short-term symptom flare-ups when taking dual therapy (a combination of two different respiratory medications). Previously, patients had to take triple therapy using two or three separate inhalers. More recently, single-inhaler triple therapies have been developed, meaning patients can take all three different medications at the same time via one single inhaler. This study assessed the characteristics of patients who were already receiving triple therapy, or who started triple therapy (either via multiple inhalers or a single inhaler), in Germany between January 2015 and December 2019. In total, 18,630 patients who were already receiving triple therapy during the study period, and 2932 patients who newly started using triple therapy were included. The study reported that more than two-thirds of included patients had experienced at least one flare-up of COPD symptoms in the 2 years before starting triple therapy. Most patients had also received another therapy for COPD before starting triple therapy. A small proportion of patients started taking triple therapy after receiving no other therapy for COPD in the previous 2 years. The results of the study suggest that triple therapy for COPD in Germany is most often used in accordance with recommendations (patients already receiving therapy and experiencing repeated symptom flare-ups).

Baseline Characteristics and ICS/LAMA/LABA Response in Asthma: Analyses From the CAPTAIN Study.

BACKGROUND: Findings from CAPTAIN (NCT02924688) suggest that treatment response to fluticasone furoate/umeclidinium/vilanterol (FF/UMEC/VI) differs according to baseline type 2 inflammation markers in patients with moderate to severe asthma. Understanding how other patient physiologic and clinical characteristics affect response to inhaled therapies may guide physicians toward a personalized approach for asthma management. OBJECTIVE: To investigate, using CAPTAIN data, the predictive value of key demographic and baseline physiologic variables in patients with asthma (lung function, bronchodilator reversibility, age, age at asthma onset) on response to addition of the long-acting muscarinic antagonist UMEC to inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting ß2-agonist combination FF/VI, or doubling the FF dose. METHODS: Prespecified and post hoc analyses of CAPTAIN data were performed using categorical and continuous variables of key baseline characteristics to understand their influence on treatment outcomes (lung function [trough FEV1], annualized rate of moderate/severe exacerbations, and asthma control [Asthma Control Questionnaire]) following addition of UMEC to FF/VI or doubling the FF dose in FF/VI or FF/UMEC/VI. RESULTS: Adding UMEC to FF/VI led to greater improvements in trough FEV1 versus doubling the FF dose across all baseline characteristics assessed. Doubling the FF dose was generally associated with numerically greater reductions in the annualized rate of moderate/severe exacerbations compared with adding UMEC, independent of baseline characteristics. Adding UMEC and/or doubling the FF dose generally led to improvements in Asthma Control Questionnaire scores irrespective of baseline characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Unlike previous findings with type 2 biomarkers, lung function, bronchodilator reversibility, age and age at asthma onset do not appear to predict response to inhaled therapy.

Long-acting B-2 agonists (LABA) or long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMA): which one may be the first option in group A COPD patients?

INTRODUCTION: Long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMA) or beta-2 agonists (LABA) have been recommended for symptom control in group A COPD patients as a first-line bronchodilator treatment in GOLD guidelines. However, there is no mention of priority/superiority between the two treatment options. We aimed to compare the effectiveness of these treatments in this group. METHODS: The study cohort was formed of all subjects from six pulmonology clinics with an initial diagnosis of COPD who were new users of a LAMA or LABA from January 2020 to December 2021. Seventy-six group A COPD patients, in whom LABA or LAMA therapy had been started in the last 1 month as a first-line treatment, were included in our study. Participants were evaluated with spirometry, COPD Assessment Test (CAT), mMRC scale, and St. George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) for three times (baseline, 6-12th months). RESULTS: There were 76 group A COPD patients with LAMA (67.1%) and LABA (32.9%). The number of patients who improved in CAT score at the end of the first year was significantly higher in patients using LAMA than those using LABA (p = 0.022); the improvement at minimum clinically important difference (MCID) in CAT score of LAMA group at 1st year was also significant (p = 0.044). SGRQ total and impact scores were found to be statistically lower at 1st year compared to baseline in patients using LAMA (p = 0.010 and 0.006, respectively). Significant improvement was detected in CAT and SGRQ scores at the 6th month visit in the LAMA group having emphysema (p = 0.032 and 0.002, respectively). CONCLUSION: According to significant improvements in CAT and SGRQ score, LAMA may be preferred over LABA as a bronchodilator agent in group A COPD patients, especially in emphysema-dominant phenotype.

The Association Between Short-Acting ß2-Agonist Over-Prescription, and Patient-Reported Acquisition and Use on Asthma Control and Exacerbations: Data from Australia.

INTRODUCTION: In Australia, short-acting ß2-agonists (SABA) are available both over the counter (OTC) and on prescription. This ease of access may impact SABA use in the Australian population. Our aim was to assess patterns and outcome associations of prescribed, acquired OTC and reported use of SABA by Australians with asthma. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study, using data derived from primary care electronic medical records (EMRs) and patient completed questionnaires within Optimum Patient Care Research Database Australia (OPCRDA). A total of 720 individuals aged ≥ 12 years with an asthma diagnosis in their EMRs and receiving asthma therapy were included. The annual number of SABA inhalers authorised on prescription, acquired OTC and reported, and the association with self-reported exacerbations and asthma control were investigated. RESULTS: 92.9% (n = 380/409) of individuals issued with SABA prescription were authorised ≥ 3 inhalers annually, although this differed from self-reported usage. Of individuals reporting SABA use (n = 546) in the last 12 months, 37.0% reported using ≥ 3 inhalers. These patients who reported SABA overuse experienced 2.52 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.73-3.70) times more severe exacerbations and were 4.51 times (95% CI 3.13-6.55) more likely to have poor asthma control than those who reported using 1-2 SABA inhalers. Patients who did not receive SABA on prescription (43.2%; n = 311/720) also experienced 2.71 (95% CI 1.07-7.26) times more severe exacerbations than those prescribed 1-2 inhalers. Of these patients, 38.9% reported using OTC SABA and other prescription medications, 26.4% reported using SABA OTC as their only asthma medication, 13.2% were prescribed other therapies but not SABA OTC and 14.5% were not using any medication. CONCLUSION: Both self-reported SABA overuse and zero SABA prescriptions were associated with poor asthma outcomes. The disconnect between prescribing authorisation, OTC availability and actual use, make it difficult for clinicians to quantify SABA use.