Figure 1.

Selection of study participants: claims data from a large national health plan were used to identify patients diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic bronchitis who experienced two or more exacerbations within the study time period.

Note: Exclusion criteria were applied to remove patients with a claims history that did not meet the study requirements.

Abbreviations: ICD-9-CM, International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification; ICSs, inhaled glucocorticosteroids; LABAs, long-acting β2-agonists; LAMAs, long-acting muscarinic antagonists; SAMAs, short-acting muscarinic antagonists.