Real-world evidence effect of budesonide+formoterol Spiromax on patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Sweden

Background and Objective: Despite improved asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) management, treatment remains inadequate in many patients. Understanding the impact of current treatment in settings outside of controlled trials would add important clinical decision-making information. This study evaluated costs and outcomes associated with budesonide+formoterol (BF) Spiromax® initiation among real-world Swedish patients with asthma and/or COPD. Methods:In this retrospective observational analysis of Swedish patients with asthma and/or COPD, data were collected from the National Patient Register, National Dispensed Drug Register, and Cause of Death Register 1 year before and after initiating BF Spiromax (index date). Outcomes included exacerbation occurrence, treatment patterns, inpatient care, and healthcare costs. Results: The study included 576 patients (asthma: 51.6%; COPD: 32.8%; and asthma and COPD: 15.6%). Following BF Spiromax initiation in asthma patients, there were significant decreases in exacerbations (41.1% to 30.0%; P < 0.001), mean comorbidity-related inpatient visits (0.5 to 0.2; P < 0.001), and inpatient days (1.9 to 0.6; P = 0.006), and a trend toward fewer asthma-related inpatient visits (mean, 0.2 to 0.1; P = 0.056) and asthma-related inpatient days (mean, 0.7 to 0.3; P = 0.060). Increased inpatient utilization was observed in patients with COPD or both diagnoses. All-cause and asthma-/COPD-related medication costs decreased in all groups. Conclusions: After switching to BF Spiromax, asthma patients had fewer exacerbations and hospital visits versus the prior year and COPD patients showed an increase in all-cause and COPD-related healthcare resource utilization. All-cause and asthma-/COPD-related medication costs decreased in all groups after switching to BF Spiromax.