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International Journal of COPD 2016:11 1403–1411
International Journal of COPD Dovepress
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1403
ORIGINAL RESEARCH
open access to scientific and medical research
Open Access Full Text Article
http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/COPD.S107985
Effect of outpatient therapy with inhaled
corticosteroids on decreasing in-hospital
mortality from pneumonia in patients with COPD
Yasuhiro Yamauchi
1
Hideo Yasunaga
2
Wakae Hasegawa
1
Yukiyo Sakamoto
1
Hideyuki Takeshima
1
Taisuke Jo
1,3
Hiroki Matsui
2
Kiyohide Fushimi
4
Takahide Nagase
1
1
Department of Respiratory Medicine,
Graduate School of Medicine,
2
Department of Clinical Epidemiology
and Health Economics, School of
Public Health,
3
Division for Health
Service Promotion, The University of
Tokyo,
4
Department of Health Policy
and Informatics, Tokyo Medical and
Dental University Graduate School
of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
Background and objectives: Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and long-acting inhaled
bronchodilators (IBD) are beneficial for the management of COPD. Although ICS has been
reported to increase the risk of pneumonia in patients with COPD, it remains controversial
whether it influences mortality. Using a Japanese national database, we examined the associa-
tion between preadmission ICS therapy and in-hospital mortality from pneumonia in patients
with COPD.
Methods: We retrospectively collected data from 1,165 hospitals in Japan on patients with
COPD who received outpatient inhalation therapy and were admitted with pneumonia. Patients
were categorized into those who received ICS with IBD and those who received IBD alone.
We performed multivariate logistic regression analysis to examine the association between
outpatient ICS therapy and in-hospital mortality, adjusting for the patients’ backgrounds.
Results: Of the 7,033 eligible patients, the IBD alone group (n=3,331) was more likely to be
older, have lower body mass index, poorer general conditions, and more severe pneumonia
than the ICS with IBD group (n=3,702). In-hospital mortality was 13.2% and 8.1% in the
IBD alone and the ICS with IBD groups, respectively. After adjustment for patients’ back-
grounds, the ICS with IBD group had significantly lower mortality than the IBD alone group
(adjusted odds ratio, 0.80; 95% confidence interval, 0.68–0.94). Higher mortality was asso-
ciated with older age, being male, lower body mass index, poorer general status, and more
severe pneumonia.
Conclusion: Outpatient inhaled ICS and IBD therapy was significantly associated with lower
mortality from pneumonia in patients with COPD than treatment with IBD alone.
Keywords: inhaled corticosteroids, bronchodilators, in-hospital mortality, pneumonia, COPD
Introduction
COPD is the third leading cause of death in the world.
1
COPD is characterized by
persistent airflow restriction, which is associated with chronic airway inflammation.
2
Mainstream treatments for COPD, as recommended by international guidelines,
3
are mainly inhaled bronchodilators (IBD), including long-acting β stimulants and
long-acting muscarinic antagonists, to improve respiratory function and reduce
respiratory symptoms,
4–6
and inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) to reduce the frequency
of exacerbations and improve the quality of life in patients with severe COPD.
5,7,8
However, regular treatment with ICS does not modify the long-term decline of
respiratory functions and mortality in COPD.
9,10
Combination therapy with ICS
and IBD is recommended for patients with severe COPD symptoms and frequent
exacerbations.
3
Correspondence: Yasuhiro Yamauchi
Department of Respiratory
Medicine, Graduate School of
Medicine, The University of Tokyo,
7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
113-8655, Japan
Tel +81 3 3815 5411
Fax +81 3 3815 5954
Email yamauchiy-int@h.u-tokyo.ac,jp
Journal name: International Journal of COPD
Article Designation: Original Research
Year: 2016
Volume: 11
Running head verso: Yamauchi et al
Running head recto: Effect of inhaled corticosteroids on mortality from pneumonia in COPD
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/COPD.S107985
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