Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations and treatment patterns in Chile: data from PATTERN studyObjective: To describe treatment and exacerbations among patients with a spirometry-confirmed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) diagnosis in a Chilean health center.Methods: Retrospective cohort study with data from 40 years old subjects, with health problems related to COPD (J40-J44 ICD-10 codes or Explicit Health Guarantee GES-38 code), and FEV 1 /FVC < 0.7 postbronchodilation, between 2018-2020, where it was analyzed one-year pre and post index (Feb/2019).It was analyzed moderate exacerbations (antibiotic and/or oral corticoids prescription) and severe (urgency visit and/or hospitalization).Results: 1,317 patients with spirometry-confirmed COPD were included (mean age 72 years, 50.3% women).In the baseline 15% had only moderate exacerbations and 2% had at least one severe exacerbation.Individuals with moderate/severe exacerbations had a greater number of events during follow-up ( 1 episode: no moderate/severe exacerbation (9.9%),only moderate exacerbations (34.9%); at least one severe exacerbation (39.3%).In most patients, no treatment prescription was identified (78.3% baseline).At least one ICS (inhaled corticosteroids), LABA (Long-Acting Beta-2 Agonist) or LAMA (Long-Acting Muscarinic Antagonist) was prescribed 18.3% at baseline.Most patients were treated with dual (53.1%) and triple (21.3%) therapy.Individuals with moderate/severe exacerbations were mainly prescribed with dual or triple therapy.Conclusion: New exacerbations were more frequent among people who had experienced a previous exacerbation.Furthermore, those with previous exacerbations had a higher frequency of prescribed treatment.
Santos et al. (Mon,) studied this question.