Introduction

Patient characteristics of new users of single-device inhalers for COPD are unknown. We describe characteristics and treatments for patients with COPD newly initiating dual or triple single-inhaler therapies in routine care in the UK.

Methods

This is a retrospective cohort study using linked UK primary and secondary care data of patients with a COPD diagnosis, aged ?35 years, with evidence of smoking history and newly initiating single-inhaler dual therapy (long-acting muscarinic antagonist [LAMA]/long-acting ?2-agonist [LABA] or inhaled corticosteroid [ICS]/LABA) or single-inhaler fluticasone furoate/umeclidinium/vilanterol (FF/UMEC/VI). Baseline characteristics and treatments are described by index therapy.

Results

32792 patients were included (FF/UMEC/VI: 14042 [42.8%], ICS/LABA: 10695 [32.6%], LAMA/LABA: 8055 [24.6%]). Table 1 shows baseline clinical characteristics and treatments immediately prior to index.  

Conclusions

New users of FF/UMEC/VI were more breathless, had worse lung function and more prior exacerbations at therapy initiation than new users of single-inhaler dual therapies in England. ICS/LABA and LAMA/LABA single-inhaler new users mostly stepped up from ICS and LAMA monotherapy, respectively, or were initial maintenance therapy users, whilst most FF/UMEC/VI new users switched from prior MITT use.

Funding: GSK 214593

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