Identifying and Characterizing COPD Patients in US Managed Care
Author Information
Author(s): Douglas W Mapel, Michael P Dutro, Jenő P Marton, Kimberly Woodruff, Barry Make
Primary Institution: Lovelace Clinic Foundation
Hypothesis
How can we effectively identify COPD patients who incur higher healthcare utilization and costs?
Conclusion
There is a relationship between the complexity of COPD patients' conditions and their healthcare utilization and exacerbation rates.
Supporting Evidence
- Patients with high complexity COPD had the highest healthcare utilization.
- Older Medicare patients were more likely to have moderate or high complexity illness.
- 70.6% of commercial patients experienced at least one exacerbation.
- Healthcare service utilization increased with the complexity of illness.
- Patients with high complexity had more than twice the pulmonary function tests compared to low complexity patients.
Takeaway
This study helps doctors find COPD patients who need more help by looking at how complicated their health issues are.
Methodology
Retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of US managed care administrative claims data from multiple health plans.
Potential Biases
Claims data may under-report certain comorbid conditions and misclassify diagnoses.
Limitations
The study is retrospective and descriptive, with potential coding errors and no control groups.
Participant Demographics
42,565 commercial patients (median age 56, 51.4% female) and 8,507 Medicare patients (median age 75, 53.1% female).
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.01
Statistical Significance
p<0.01
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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