AimThe aim of this study was to analyze the association between therapy adherence to inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) and tiotropium on the one hand and morbidity and mortality in COPD on the other hand.MethodsTherapy adherence to ICSs and tiotropium over a 3-year period of, respectively, 635 and 505 patients was collected from pharmacy records. It was expressed as percentage and deemed optimal at ≥75–≤125%, suboptimal at ≥50%–<75%, and poor at <50% (underuse) or >125% (overuse). The association between adherence and time to first hospital admission for an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD), community acquired pneumonia (CAP), and mortality was analyzed, with optimal use as the reference category.ResultsSuboptimal use and underuse of ICSs and tiotropium were associated with a substantial increase in mortality risk: hazard ratio (HR) of ICSs was 2.9 (95% CI 1.7–5.1) and 5.3 (95% CI 3.3–8.5) and HR of tiotropium was 3.9 (95% CI 2.1–7.5) and 6.4 (95% CI 3.8–10.8) for suboptimal use and underuse, respectively. Suboptimal use and overuse of tiotropium were also associated with an increased risk of CAP, HR 2.2 (95% CI 1.2–4.0) and HR 2.3 (95% CI 1.2–4.7), respectively. Nonadherence to tiotropium was also associated with an increased risk of severe AECOPD: suboptimal use HR 3.0 (95% CI 2.01–4.5), underuse HR 1.9 (95% CI 1.2–3.1), and overuse HR 1.84 (95% CI 1.1–3.1). Nonadherence to ICSs was not related to time to first AECOPD or first CAP.ConclusionPoor adherence to ICSs and tiotropium was associated with a higher mortality risk. Furthermore, nonadherence to tiotropium was associated with a higher morbidity. The question remains whether improving adherence can reduce morbidity and mortality.

Objective: To study the influence of type of inhalation device on medication adherence of COPD patients. Methods: Adherence to inhalation medication of 795 patients was recorded from pharmacy records over 3 years. It was expressed as percentage and deemed good at ≥75-≤125%, suboptimal ≥50-<75%, and poor <50% (underuse) or >125% (overuse). Since most patients used more than one device, 1379 medication periods were analyzed. Results: Patients using a Metered Dose Inhaler (MDI) or Diskus had a 2.3-fold and 2.2-fold increased risk, respectively, of suboptimal adherence versus good adherence, compared to Handihaler and a 2.1-fold and 2.2-fold increased risk, respectively, of underuse versus good adherence compared to Handihaler. Turbuhaler, MDI, Respimat had a 7.9-fold, 3.5-fold, and 2.0-fold increased risk, of overuse versus good adherence compared to Handihaler. Conclusions: In COPD, adherence to inhalation medication is device-related. Overuse was most pronounced for devices without a dose counter, devices with the ability to load a dosage without actual inhalation, or devices lacking feedback of correct inhalation. The design of the device seems to be related to underuse and overuse of inhaled medication. Future research might investigate whether prescribing a different device with similar medication improves therapy adherence. ARTICLE HISTORY

BackgroundBoth chronic inflammation and cardiovascular comorbidity play an important role in the morbidity and mortality of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Statins could be a potential adjunct therapy. The additional effects of statins in COPD are, however, still under discussion. The aim of this study is to further investigate the association of statin use with clinical outcomes in a well-described COPD cohort.Methods795 patients of the Cohort of Mortality and Inflammation in COPD (COMIC) study were divided into statin users or not. Statin use was defined as having a statin for at least 90 consecutive days after inclusion. Outcome parameters were 3-year survival, based on all-cause mortality, time until first hospitalisation for an acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) and time until first community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). A sensitivity analysis was performed without patients who started a statin 3 months or more after inclusion to exclude immortal time bias.ResultsStatin use resulted in a better overall survival (corrected HR 0.70 (95% CI 0.51 to 0.96) in multivariate analysis), but in the sensitivity analysis this association disappeared. Statin use was not associated with time until first hospitalisation for an AECOPD (cHR 0.95, 95% CI 0.74 to 1.22) or time until first CAP (cHR 1.1, 95% CI 0.83 to 1.47).ConclusionsIn the COMIC study, statin use is not associated with a reduced risk of all-cause mortality, time until first hospitalisation for an AECOPD or time until first CAP in patients with COPD.

Objective: To study differences in adherence to common inhaled medications in COPD. Methods: Adherence of 795 patients was recorded from pharmacy records over 3 years in the COMIC cohort. It was expressed as percentage and deemed good at ≥75-≤125%, sub-optimal ≥50-<75%, and poor <50% (underuse) or >125% (overuse). Most patients used more than one medication, so we present 1379 medication periods. Conclusion: Therapy adherence to inhalation medication for the treatment of COPD is in our study related to the medication prescribed. Tiotropium showed the highest percentage of patients with good adherence, followed by ciclesonide, both dosed once daily. The idea of improving adherence by using combined preparations cannot be confi rmed in this study. Further research is needed to investigate the possibilities of improving adherence by changing inhalation medication. COPD, 00:1-6, 2015

BackgroundTherapy adherence in COPD is crucial for treating symptoms, preventing exacerbations, and related complications. To achieve optimal adherence, it is important to recognize and understand a nonadherent patient.ObjectiveTo study perceptions and beliefs regarding COPD and inhaled medication in COPD patients with poor adherence.MethodsTwenty patients (10 underuse, 10 overuse) were interviewed in semistructured in-depth interviews, about mental and physical health, illness perceptions, knowledge regarding COPD, and experience with, knowledge of, and acceptance of COPD medication and inhalation devices.ResultsA majority of patients did not fully accept their disease, showed little disease knowledge, and many revealed signs of depressive mood and severe fatigue. Overusers reported more grief about decreased participation in daily life and were more frustrated in general. Underusers claimed using less medication because they felt well, did not want to use too much medication, and used their inhalation devices too long. Overusers reported medication “dependency”; they tended to catastrophize when being without medication and discarded inhalation devices too early because they feared running out of medication.ConclusionOverusers and underusers showed a different pattern in perceptions and beliefs regarding inhaled medication and COPD.Practical implicationsIt is important to understand the reasons for under- and overuse. Is it related to practical issues regarding knowledge or is it influenced by beliefs and/or anxiety concerning COPD or medication? These issues need to be addressed for improving adherence.