Trend in age-sex standardized annual incidence rates (per 100,000 person-years) of IPF in Lombardy during 2005–2010 by case definition.

<p>(A) General case definition. (B) Broad case definition. (C) Narrow case definition. Grey bands indicate 95% confidence intervals.</p

Estimates of the mean annual standardized IPF prevalence rates (per 100,000 person-years) in Lombardy during the period 2005–2010 by gender, age, and case definition.

<p>Estimates of the mean annual standardized IPF prevalence rates (per 100,000 person-years) in Lombardy during the period 2005–2010 by gender, age, and case definition.</p

Criteria applied in general, broad and narrow case definitions for IPF.

<p>Criteria applied in general, broad and narrow case definitions for IPF.</p

Trend in age-sex standardized annual prevalence rates (per 100,000 person-years) of IPF in Lombardy during 2005–2010, by case definition.

<p>(A) General case definition. (B) Broad case definition. (C) Narrow case definition. Grey bands indicate 95% confidence intervals.</p

Demographic characteristics of prevalent and incident cases of IPF from 2005 to 2010 in Lombardy by case definition.

<p>Demographic characteristics of prevalent and incident cases of IPF from 2005 to 2010 in Lombardy by case definition.</p

Results of Poisson regression models on expected incidence rates in the reference population (population of Lombardy at January 1^st 2010).

<p>Results of Poisson regression models on expected incidence rates in the reference population (population of Lombardy at January 1^st 2010).</p

Results of Poisson regression models on expected prevalence rates in the reference population (population of Lombardy at January 1^st 2010).

<p>Results of Poisson regression models on expected prevalence rates in the reference population (population of Lombardy at January 1^st 2010).</p

Estimates of the mean annual standardized IPF incidence rates (per 100,000 person-years) in Lombardy during the period 2005–2010 by gender, age, and case definition.

<p>Estimates of the mean annual standardized IPF incidence rates (per 100,000 person-years) in Lombardy during the period 2005–2010 by gender, age, and case definition.</p

The Clinical and Economic Impact of Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Cohort of Hospitalized Patients

<div><p>Background</p><p>Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a common disease with significant health and economic consequences. This study assesses the burden of COPD in the general population, and the influence of exacerbations (E-COPD) on disease progression and costs.</p><p>Methods</p><p>This is a secondary data analysis of healthcare administrative databases of the region of Lombardy, in northern Italy. The study included ≥ 40 year-old patients hospitalized for a severe E-COPD (index event) during 2006. Patients were classified in relation to the number and type of E-COPD experienced in a three-year pre-index period. Subjects were followed up until December 31^st, 2009, collecting data on healthcare resource use and vital status.</p><p>Results</p><p>15857 patients were enrolled –9911 males, mean age: 76 years (SD 10). Over a mean follow-up time of 2.4 years (1.36), 81% of patients had at least one E-COPD with an annual rate of 3.2 exacerbations per person-year and an all-cause mortality of 47%. A history of exacerbation influenced the occurrence of new E-COPD and mortality after discharge for an E-COPD. On average, the healthcare system spent 6725€ per year per person (95%CI 6590–6863). Occurrence and type of exacerbations drove the direct healthcare cost. Less than one quarter of patients presented claims for pulmonary function tests.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>COPD imposes a substantial burden on healthcare systems, mainly attributable to the type and occurrence of E-COPD, or in other words, to the exacerbator phenotypes. A more tailored approach to the management of COPD patients is required.</p></div

Main characteristics of the population at index event in relation to the three study groups.

<p>Group A: patients with at least one severe exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (E-COPD)in the three-year pre-index period; Group B: patients with only moderate E-COPD in the three-year pre-index period; Group C patients without E-COPD in the three-year pre-index period.SD = standard deviation.</p><p>' % of the whole population.</p><p>'' COPD is not considered as a comorbidity.</p>1<p>p<0.05 vs group A, ² p<0.05 vs group B.</p