Introduction: The aim was to investigate how the pattern of pharmacological treatment in Swedish patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has changed over a decade, and to identify factors associated with treatment. Methods: Data on patient characteristics and pharmacological treatment were collected using questionnaires from two separate cohorts of randomly selected primary and secondary care patients with a doctor’s diagnosis of COPD in central Sweden, in 2005 (n = 1111) and 2014 (n = 1329). Cross-tabulations and chi-square tests were used to compare maintenance treatment in 2005 and 2014, and to investigate the distribution of treatment by the 2017 Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) ABCD groups. Multinomial logistic regression was used to analyze associations with the major types of recommended treatments: bronchodilator therapy, combined long-acting beta-2-antagonists (LABA) + inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), and triple inhaled therapy. Results: The proportion of patients with no maintenance treatment, with only LABA + ICS, and with sole ICS statistically significantly decreased (36 vs. 31%, 16 vs. 12% and 5 vs. 2%, respectively), and the proportion with triple inhaled therapy statistically significantly increased (29 vs. 40%). In 2014, triple inhaled therapy was the most common treatment in all GOLD groups except group A. In 2014, previous frequent exacerbations [OR (95% CI) 2.34 (1.62 to 3.36)], worse COPD Assessment Test score [1.07 (1.05 to 1.09)], female sex [2.13 (1.56 to 2.91)], and access to a specific responsible doctor [1.95 (1.41 to 2.69)] were associated with triple inhaled therapy. Current smoking [0.40 (0.28 to 0.57)] and overweight [0.62 (0.41 to 0.93)] were inversely associated with triple inhaled therapy. Conclusions: Over the last decade, triple inhaled therapy has increased, and no maintenance treatment, ICS, or LABA + ICS has decreased. Triple inhaled therapy is the most common treatment and is associated with previous exacerbations, higher symptom level, female sex, and having a specific responsible doctor.

Purpose: Women with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have more symptoms, more exacerbations, lower health status scores, and more comorbidity. However, it is unclear whether management of COPD differs by sex. The aim of the study was to investigate differences by sex in the care of patients with COPD. Patients and methods: The population included 1329 primary and secondary care patients with a doctor´s diagnosis of COPD in central Sweden. Data were obtained from patient questionnaires and included patient characteristics and data on achieved COPD care. Analyses included cross-tabulations, chi-squared test and multiple logistic regression using several measures in COPD management as dependent variables, female sex as independent variable, and with adjustment for age groups, previous exacerbations, COPD Assessment Test, level of dyspnea assessed by the modified Medical Research Council scale, comorbid conditions, self-rated moderate/severe disease, level of education and body mass index. Results: Women were more likely to receive triple therapy (OR 1.86 (95% CI 1.38–2.51)), to have any maintenance treatment (OR 1.82 (95% CI 1.31–2.55)), to be on sick leave (OR 2.16 (95% CI 1.19–3.93)), to have received smoking cessation support (OR 1.80 (95% CI 1.18–2.75)) and to have had pneumococcal vaccination (OR 1.82 (95% CI 1.37–2.43)), all independently of age, severity of disease or other potential confounders. Conclusion: Management of COPD differs by sex, with women being more actively managed than men. It is unclear whether this is due to patient- or care-related factors.