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There is considerable controversy concerning the utility of inhaled corticosteroids for the long-term treatment of patients with COPD. Recent studies have suggested that although inhaled corticosteroids do not alter the rate of decline in lung function, they may reduce airway hyperresponsiveness, decrease the frequency of exacerbations, and slow the rate of decline in the patients' health status. The relationship between inhaled corticosteroids and subsequent risk of hospitalization or mortality remains unknown. We therefore conducted a population-based cohort study using administrative databases in Ontario, Canada (n = 22,620) to determine the association between inhaled corticosteroid therapy and the combined risk of repeat hospitalization and all-cause mortality in elderly patients with COPD. Patients who received inhaled corticosteroid therapy postdischarge (within 90 d) had 24% fewer repeat hospitalizations for COPD (95% confidence interval [CI], 22 to 35%) and were 29% less likely to experience mortality (95% CI, 22 to 35%) during 1 yr of follow-up after adjustment for various confounding factors. This cohort study has suggested that inhaled corticosteroid therapy is associated with reduced COPD-related morbidity and mortality in elderly patients. Although not definitive, because of the observational nature of these findings, these data provide a compelling rationale for a large randomized trial to determine the effect of inhaled corticosteroids on COPD-related morbidity and mortality.

Study Objectives: Despite their proven efficacy, inhaled steroids may be underused in the elderly asthmatic population. The objectives of this study were to determine if inhaled steroids are underused in the elderly asthmatic population, who are at a high risk for rehospitalization and mortality, and to identify certain risk factors that predict lower use of inhaled steroids in this group of patients., Design: Population-based, retrospective, cohort study using linked data from hospital discharge and outpatient drug databases., Participants: All people > or = 65 years old in Ontario, Canada, who survived an acute exacerbation of asthma between April 1992 and March 1997., Measurements and Results: Of the 6,254 patients, 2,495 patients (40%) did not receive inhaled steroid therapy within 90 days of discharge from their initial hospitalization for asthma. Patients > 80 years old were at a greater risk of not receiving inhaled steroid therapy, compared to those 65 to 70 years of age (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.23; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05 to 1.47). Patients with a Charlson comorbidity index of > or = 3 were also at an increased risk of not receiving inhaled steroid therapy, compared to those having no comorbidities (adjusted OR, 3.45; 95% CI, 1.56 to 7.69). Moreover, receipt of care from a primary-care physician was independently associated with an elevated risk of not receiving inhaled steroid therapy, compared to receipt of care from respirologists/allergists (adjusted OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.10 to 1.61)., Interpretation: Forty percent of Ontario patients > or = 65 years old who experienced a recent acute exacerbation of asthma did not receive inhaled steroid therapy near discharge from their initial hospitalization for asthma. Nonreceipt of inhaled steroid therapy was particularly prominent in the older patients with multiple comorbidities. Moreover, those who received care from primary-care physicians were also less likely to receive inhaled steroid therapy, compared to those who received care from specialists.

Objective: To determine the association between outpatient use of oral antibiotics and 30-day all-cause mortality following hospitalization in a group of elderly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients., Design: A population-based retrospective cohort study., Setting: Ontario, Canada., Population Studied: All 26,301 patients, 65 years of age or older, who were hospitalized for COPD between 1992 and 1996 in Ontario., Methods: All elderly patients admitted at least once with a most responsible diagnosis of COPD using the Canadian Institute for Health Information database were identified. They were then linked to the Ontario Drug Benefit database to determine the use of antibiotics within 30 days of the index hospitalization and to the Ontario registered persons database to determine the 30-day mortality following their index hospitalization., Results: Outpatient use of antibiotics within 30 days before the index hospitalization was associated with a significant reduction in the 30-day mortality following hospitalization (odds ratio [OR] 0.83, 95% CI 0.75 to 0.92). Use of macrolides had the lowest relative odds for mortality (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.47 to 0.73), while use of fluoroquinolones had the highest relative odds (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.84 to 1.15)., Conclusions: Use of antibiotics before hospitalization was associated with a significant reduction in the risk of short term mortality among a group of elderly COPD patients who eventually required hospitalization for their disease. These findings support the early use of antibiotics in COPD patients who experience an acute exacerbation.