Readmission Risk in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients: Comparative Study of Nebulized β(2)-Agonists

BACKGROUND: Bronchodilators are used for managing the symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and minimizing the risk of hospitalization and readmission. Hospital readmission is predictive of morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVE: The study objective was to compare all-cause readmission risk in COPD patients receiving nebulized long-acting β(2)-agonists (neb-LABAs) versus nebulized short-acting β(2)-agonists (neb-SABA) following COPD-related hospitalization discharge. METHODS: This retrospective analysis utilized US-based pharmacy and medical claims records (2001–2011) to identify COPD patients aged ≥40 years receiving neb-LABA or neb-SABA treatment within 30 days following discharge from a COPD-related hospitalization. Patients had to be continuously enrolled in their health plan for ≥6 months before and after their first neb-LABA or neb-SABA prescription fill (index date), and adherent to the treatment for the first 3 months post-index date. To select patients with similar severity profiles, neb-LABA and neb-SABA patients were matched by baseline characteristics. Readmission risks were observed over the 6-month period following the index date and compared between neb-LABA and neb-SABA cohorts using the multiple variable Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: The analysis included 246 matched patients (neb-LABA = 123; neb-SABA = 123). The mean age was 67 years, and 54% were female. The average length of stay during index hospitalization was 4.4 days. After adjusting for potential confounders, the risk of readmission was 47% lower in the neb-LABA cohort than in the neb-SABA cohort (hazard ratio 0.53, 95% confidence interval 0.30–0.96; P = 0.0349). CONCLUSIONS: Patients receiving neb-LABAs had a significantly lower readmission risk within 6 months following a COPD-related hospitalization versus patients treated with neb-SABAs.