Healthcare costs of the SATisfaction and adherence to COPD treatment (SAT) study follow-up

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)is characterised by recurring exacerbations. We estimated the costs of healthcare resources for COPD management funded by the Italian National Healthcare Service (INHS)for one year. Methods: We examined the demographic, clinical, and economic variables at enrolment and follow-up visits (at 6 and 12 months)of COPD patients participating in the SAT study and referred to 20 Italian pulmonary centres with different institutional characteristics. Costs were expressed in Euro (€)2018. A random effects log-linear panel regression model was performed to predict the average cost per patient. Results: Most of the centres were public institutions (90%; public university hospital: 30%). The total average cost of COPD was €2647.38/patient and ICS/LABA/LAMA therapy contributed the most (€1541.45). The average cost was €6206.19/patient for severe COPD (+139.67% vs the cost/patient with mild or moderate COPD). The regression model showed that, others things being equal, increases in the predicted average logged cost per patient were due to liquid oxygen therapy (+468.31%), three COPD exacerbations during the follow-up (+254.54%), and ICS/LABA or ICS/LABA/LAMA associated therapy (+59.26%). Moreover, a 1.19% increment was observed for each additional score of the CAT questionnaire. Conversely, a 36.52% reduction in the predicted average logged cost was reported for hospitals managed by local healthcare authorities. Conclusions: The health econometric approach is innovative in the management of COPD patients in Italy. The results of the random effects log-linear panel data regression model may help clinicians estimate INHS costs when managing COPD patients. Clinicaltrials.gov ID# NCT02689492.