Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common lung condition most often caused by smoking. COPD patients are at risk of severe episodes of deterioration - 'exacerbations'. Exacerbations are the second commonest cause of adult emergency medical hospital admission in the UK and are associated with shortened lives and decreased quality of life. There are several interventions that can help to improve quality of life in people with COPD and may help to reduce exacerbations and health care utilisation and cost associated with exacerbations. One of these interventions is called pulmonary rehabilitation. Pulmonary rehabilitation requires people with COPD to attend an exercise and education class once or twice a week over a 4 to 6 week period. While many studies have investigated the effect of pulmonary rehabilitation on individual patients, whole systems cost effectiveness studies are less common. This study will help us to understand potential cost savings in terms of COPD exacerbation reductions when pulmonary rehabilitation is maximally utilised for people with COPD.
As a national sample of current practice, we will use linked CPRD GOLD data with HES and ONS to undertake a cohort study followed by a regression analysis.
We will compare exacerbation numbers and severity in people with COPD who have and have not participated in pulmonary rehabilitation, taking into account the fact that not everyone is eligible for the programme. The information obtained from this study will be used to inform the development of models which can then be used as a national resource.
Jennifer Quint - Chief Investigator - Imperial College London
Jennifer Quint - Corresponding Applicant - Imperial College London
Michael Soljak - Collaborator - Imperial College London
Miland Joshi - Collaborator - Imperial College London
Roger Newson - Collaborator - Imperial College London
HES Admitted Patient Care;ONS Death Registration Data;Patient Level Index of Multiple Deprivation;Practice Level Index of Multiple Deprivation