Medication Use Before and After Hospitalization for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in a Cohort of Elderly Patients with a Medicare Advantage Plan

BACKGROUND: Several medications, including long-acting bronchodilators (LABDs), are critical to the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Clinical guidelines recommend the initiation of an LABD for COPD posthospitalization to prevent exacerbations. COPD can limit a patient's exercise tolerance, mobility, and ability to work. Disease exacerbations resulting from inadequate treatment have contributed to increased medical costs and morbidity. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the prescription fills for COPD medications, especially LABDs, before and after COPD-related hospitalization, in elderly patients, and to evaluate factors associated with prescription fills of LABDs after COPD-related hospitalization. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included patients with COPD aged >= 65 years who enrolled in Cigna-HealthSpring Medicare Advantage plans in Texas between 2011 and 2014. The index hospitalization was the first hospitalization with a primary diagnosis of COPD. Based on prescription fills within 180 days of the postindex discharge date, eligible patients were divided into 4 groups, by types of medication used. Prescription fills were compared during the 180-day preindex admission and 180-day postindex discharge. RESULTS: Of the 1352 patients included, 12% received LABDs and 26% received any COPD medication. The LABD group versus the no-LABD group and the COPD medication group versus the no-COPD medication group were more likely to have a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score. McNemar's tests indicated that the proportions of patients who filled any COPD medication prescription increased from before to after hospitalization. Overall, 69% of patients did not fill any COPD medication during the study period. Adjusted analysis indicated that patients with a higher CCI score who filled an LABD prescription or at least 1 other COPD medication within 180 days before hospitalization were more likely to fill an LABD prescription after hospitalization; filling an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) prescription before hospitalization was associated with not filling an LABD prescription after hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: Although filling an LABD and other COPD medications increased after hospitalization, the overall prescription fills for LABDs according to clinical guidelines was low in elderly patients. Patients with COPD who underutilized LABDs for maintenance therapy and relied more on ICSs before hospitalization were less likely to fill a prescription for an LABD after hospitalization. Future studies should evaluate patients' reasons for medication underutilization.