Table 1.
Demographic and clinical characteristics in sample (n = 8554)
| Characteristic | Results |
|---|---|
| Age (years) [mean (SD)] | 70.1 (8.6) |
| Aged 65 years or older [n (%)] | 6759 (79.0) |
| Gender (% female) | 50.2 |
| Race/ethnicity [n (%)] | |
| White | 5806 (68.7) |
| Black | 659 (7.8) |
| Hispanic | 466 (5.5) |
| Other | 1515 (17.9) |
| United States geographic region [n (%)] | |
| Midwest | 2076 (24.3) |
| Northeast | 147 (1.7) |
| South | 5670 (66.5) |
| West | 639 (7.5) |
| Income level [n (%)]a | |
| Low (≤$33,541) | 2317 (27.1) |
| Medium (>$33,541 to <$52,480) | 4195 (49.0) |
| High (≥$52,480) | 2042 (23.9) |
| DCI score [mean (SD)]b | 1.9 (1.8) |
| Top five comorbidities [n (%)] | |
| Related COPD diagnosesc | 1968 (23.0) |
| Diabetes without complication | 1900 (22.2) |
| Congestive heart failure | 1568 (18.3) |
| Peripheral vascular disease | 972 (11.4) |
| Renal disease | 822 (9.6) |
| Maintenance medications (total) [n (%)]d | |
| LABA alone | 360 (4.2) |
| LAMA alone | 3708 (43.4) |
| Any ICS | 8554 (100) |
| ICS + LABA combination | 4472 (52.3) |
| ICS + LABA + LAMA combination | 2130 (24.9) |
| Other respiratory medications (total) [n (%)] | |
| SAMA and combinations | 4611 (53.9) |
| Methylxanthines | 520 (6.1) |
| Oral/IV corticosteroids | 5289 (61.8) |
| Antibiotics | 7203 (84.2) |
| Long-term oxygen use | 3525 (41.2) |
| Mean number of total drugs taken for the year [n (SD)] | 14.65 (6.9) |
Notes:
All figures given in US dollars;
the range for the DCI score was 0–16;
related COPD diagnoses (chronic pulmonary heart disease, COPD and allied conditions other than ICD-9-CM code 491.x, and respiratory conditions due to external agents) are ICD-9-CM codes 416.8, 416.9, 490, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 500, 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506.4, 508.1, and 508.8;
categories of maintenance medication prescriptions are not mutually exclusive.
Abbreviations: DCI, Deyo-Charlson Comorbidity Index; ICD-9-CM, International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification; ICS, inhaled glucocorticosteroid; IV, intravenous; LABA, long-acting β2-agonist; LAMA, long-acting muscarinic antagonist; SAMA, short-acting muscarinic antagonist; SD, standard deviation.