Hospitalization, mortality rates and costs associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Distrito Federal, Brazil, before and after the change in 2018 state COPD protocol version – Real-world data

Abstract

Objective: Evaluate the rates of hospitalization, mortality and costs associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) before and after the change in COPD Treatment Protocol of State Health Secretariat of Distrito Federal (SES-DF). Methods: An observational, cross-sectional study was conducted in a cohort of hospitalized adult patients in two specific periods: August/2017 to July/2018 (MAT 1 – old version of Protocol in place) and August/2018 to July/2019 (MAT 2 - after the new Protocol version). Hospitalized patients with COPD as primary diagnosis according to International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems Version 10 (ICD-10) established by COPD Treatment Protocol and registered in DATASUS database were evaluated. The outcomes assessed were the number of hospitalizations, mortality and total costs associated with COPD hospitalizations. Results: After analyzing the data related to COPD, the comparison between MAT 1 (August/2017 to July/2018) and MAT 2 (August/2018 to July/2019) periods resulted in an increase in the occurrence of relevant outcomes: +131.3% in the number of hospitalizations with intensive care unit (ICU) admissions (n = 16 in MAT 1 vs. n = 37 in MAT 2, p < 0.01), +101.0% in the frequency of hospitalizations with ICU admissions over total number of hospitalizations (2.4% in MAT 1 vs. 4.8% in MAT 2, p = 0.01), +566.7% in deaths of patients admitted in ICU (n = 3 in MAT 1 vs. n = 20 in MAT 2, p < 0.01), +52.9% in total costs associated with COPD hospitalizations (R$ 828,761 in MAT 1 vs. R$ 1,267,318 in MAT 2, p = 0.03). Conclusion: During the analyzed periods, an increase in ICU usage, mortality in ICU and total costs related to COPD was observed. The update in the protocol switched the inhaler device (from soft mist to dry powder) and also the molecule (tiotropium to glycopyrronium) and could be potentially one of the factors responsible for these endpoints, however the limitations of this observational analysis cannot determine a causal impact of the protocol change as other variables could also have led to the differences described.