Initiation of Triple Therapy with Multiple Inhalers in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: An Analysis of Treatment Patterns from a U.S. Retrospective Database Study

BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests that real-world treatment patterns of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) do not always follow evidence-based treatment recommendations such as those of the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease, which recommends treatment escalation based on disease progression. This U.S. database study evaluated treatment patterns in patients with COPD, focusing on time to initiation of triple therapy using multiple inhalers. OBJECTIVES: To (a) estimate time from diagnosis to initiation of long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) monotherapy, inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)/long-acting beta2-agonist (LABA) dual therapy, or LAMA/LABA dual therapy; (b) estimate time to initiation of triple therapy from LAMA monotherapy and ICS/LABA or LAMA/LABA dual therapies; and (c) estimate the likelihood of patient progression to triple therapy. METHODS: This study was a retrospective analysis of patients with COPD newly started on LAMA monotherapy, ICS/LABA, or LAMA/LABA therapy between July 1, 2010, and March 31, 2013, as identified in Humana’s research database. Patients who were fully insured with commercial or Medicare Advantage insurance plans and were aged ≥ 40 years at index with at least 1 hospitalization, 1 emergency department, or 1 medical office visit claim with a COPD diagnosis in the pre-index year were included in the analysis. Time from diagnosis to initiation of index therapy and time to triple therapy after index therapy were assessed. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the likelihood of progression to triple therapy. RESULTS: Of 13,541 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COPD, 4,000 received LAMA monotherapy; 8,207 received ICS/LABA therapy; and 77 received LAMA/LABA therapy at index; mean time (± SD) from COPD diagnosis to initiation of triple therapy was 178 (± 134) days, 185 (± 130) days, and 252 (± 124) days, respectively. During the study, 28% (n = 1,130) of patients receiving LAMA monotherapy and 20% (n = 1,647) of patients receiving dual therapy (ICS/LABA, n = 1,615; LAMA/LABA, n = 32) progressed to triple therapy. Of the patients who progressed to triple therapy, 63% and 57% of patients receiving monotherapy and dual therapy, respectively, progressed in the 12 months after the index date. In the 12 months before initiation of triple therapy, approximately 50% of patients in the LAMA monotherapy, ICS/LABA, and LAMA/LABA therapy groups had an exacerbation. In the multivariable analysis, discontinuation of therapy, smoking history, and concomitant use of xanthenes and short-acting beta2-agonists were significant predictors of progression from index therapy to triple therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 25% of patients with COPD progressed to triple therapy within 12 months of initiating treatment with monotherapy or dual therapy. Exacerbations were reported in only 50% of these patients, indicating that the other 50% may have escalated to triple therapy for other reasons. Treatment discontinuation, smoking history, the use of a LAMA, and concomitant medication use were significant predictors of progression to triple therapy.