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Sujata P Sarda,1 Guillaume Germain,2 Malena Mahendran,3 Jacob Klimek,3 Wendy Y Cheng,3 Roger Luo,1 Mei Sheng Duh3 1Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Waltham, MA, USA; 2Groupe d’analyse, Ltée, Montreal, Québec, Canada; 3Analysis Group, Inc, Boston, MA, USACorrespondence: Guillaume Germain, Vice President, Analysis Group, Inc, 1190 avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal, Suite 1500, Montréal, QC, H3B 0G7, Canada, Tel +1-514-394-4446, Email guillaume.germain@analysisgroup.comPurpose: This study assessed the clinical and economic burden of geographic atrophy (GA) using real-world data from elderly patients with Medicare Advantage plans in the United States.Patients and Methods: A retrospective cohort design of patients with GA only, GA + visual impairment (GA + VI), GA + blindness (GA + B), and patients without GA were identified using administrative healthcare claims data from Optum Clinformatics Data Mart. Inverse probability of treatment weighting controlled for confounding when comparing patients with GA only vs without GA, GA + VI vs GA only, and GA + B vs GA only. Endpoints included all-cause and ophthalmic condition-related healthcare resource utilization (HRU), injurious falls, and healthcare costs. HRU and injurious falls were assessed per-person-per-year and per 100 person-years, respectively. Cohorts were compared using rate ratios, 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and p-values from weighted Poisson regression models. Healthcare costs were evaluated per-person-per-year using mean cost differences, 95% CIs, and p-values from weighted linear regression.Results: The study included 18,119 patients with GA only, 2,285 with GA + VI, 1,716 with GA + B, and 72,476 patients without GA. Higher rates of all-cause hospitalizations (RR [95% CI]: 1.08 [1.03, 1.12]), outpatient visits (1.08 [1.05, 1.10]), other visits (1.14 [1.08, 1.21]), and falls with head injuries (1.24 [1.05, 1.45]) were observed in patients with GA vs without GA (P< 0.05). GA was associated with higher annual all-cause total healthcare costs, spending an average of &dollar;1,171 more after adjustment (P< 0.05). Progression to GA + VI and GA + B was associated with a more pronounced burden.Conclusion: The clinical and economic burden of GA is substantial and escalates as the disease advances. These findings suggest early intervention aimed at slowing GA progression may help to mitigate the healthcare burden associated with advancement of GA to visual impairment and blindness.Keywords: geographic atrophy, economic burden, claims data, retrospective, visual impairment, blindness

Michael Bogart,1 Guillaume Germain,2 François Laliberté,2 Malena Mahendran,2 Mei Sheng Duh,3 Kristi DiRocco,4 Stephen G Noorduyn,5,6 Rosirene Paczkowski,7 Ronald Balkissoon8 1U.S. Value Evidence and Outcomes, R&D U.S., GSK, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, USA; 2Groupe d’Analyse, Ltée, Montréal, QC, Canada; 3Analysis Group, Inc., Boston, MA, USA; 4U.S. Medical Affairs, GSK, Collegeville, PA, USA; 5Global Value Evidence and Outcomes, GSK, Mississauga, ON, Canada; 6Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada; 7Value Evidence and Outcomes, GSK, Collegeville, PA, USA; 8National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, USACorrespondence: Kristi DiRocco, U.S. Medical Affairs, GSK, Collegeville, PA, USA, Tel +1 610-412-7175, Email kristi.k.dirocco@gsk.comPurpose: Real-world asthma control data among patients initiating fluticasone furoate/umeclidinium/vilanterol (FF/UMEC/VI) are limited. This study assessed rescue medication use and asthma-related exacerbations in patients with asthma before and after initiating single-inhaler FF/UMEC/VI using administrative claims data.Patients and Methods: This retrospective, pre-post cohort study analyzed data from the IQVIA PharMetrics Plus database (September 18, 2016‒March 31, 2020). Patients aged ≥ 18 years that had ≥ 1 dispensing of single-inhaler FF/UMEC/VI 100/62.5/25 mcg (first dispensing = index date), ≥ 12 months of continuous health insurance enrollment prior to (pre-treatment) and following (post-treatment) FF/UMEC/VI initiation and ≥ 1 diagnosis of asthma during the pre-treatment period or on the index date were included. The primary endpoint was the number of oral corticosteroid (OCS) dispensings per patient per year during pre- and post-treatment periods. Secondary endpoints included asthma-related exacerbation rates and short-acting β2-agonist (SABA) use. Comparisons between pre- and post-treatment periods were made using risk and rate ratios.Results: Overall, 890 patients with asthma initiating treatment with FF/UMEC/VI were included. The most recently dispensed controller medications prior to FF/UMEC/VI initiation were inhaled corticosteroids/long-acting β2-agonists (33.5%) and leukotriene modifiers (33.0%). Patients had a 29% reduction in the number of OCS dispensings (rate ratio [95% confidence interval (CI)]: 0.71 [0.65, 0.77], P < 0.001) during post-treatment versus pre-treatment, with a 23% reduction in the proportion of patients with ≥ 1 OCS dispensing post-treatment (risk ratio [95% CI]: 0.77 [0.73, 0.82], P < 0.001). Significant reductions in rates (rate ratio [95% CI]) of asthma-related exacerbations (0.59 [0.52, 0.67], P < 0.001) and SABA use (0.80 [0.74, 0.86], P < 0.001) were also observed.Conclusion: In this real-world study, patients with asthma had significantly lower OCS use, asthma-related exacerbations, and SABA use following treatment initiation with FF/UMEC/VI compared with their pre-treatment period. These results suggest better asthma control following initiation of FF/UMEC/VI in a routine clinical practice setting.Keywords: oral corticosteroids, rescue medication use, asthma control, FF/UMEC/VI, asthma exacerbations

Michael Bogart,1 Guillaume Germain,2 François Laliberté,2 Dominique Lejeune,2 Mei Sheng Duh3 1U.S. Value Evidence and Outcomes, R&D US, GSK, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA; 2Groupe d’analyse, Ltée, Montréal, QC, Canada; 3Analysis Group, Boston, MA, USACorrespondence: Mei Sheng Duh, Analysis Group, 111 Huntington Ave 14th Floor, Boston, MA, 02199, USA, Tel +1 617 425 8131, Email mei.duh@analysisgroup.comPurpose: There is limited literature regarding real-world treatment patterns of patients with COPD, particularly since the introduction of once-daily single-inhaler triple therapy with fluticasone furoate/umeclidinium/vilanterol in 2017. Here, we evaluated treatment patterns of patients with COPD before and after a COPD exacerbation.Patients and Methods: Retrospective, descriptive study using medical and pharmacy claims data and enrollment information from the Optum® Clinformatics® Data Mart database. Patients aged ≥ 40 years with ≥ 1 COPD exacerbation on or after September 18, 2017 were included. The index date was the last day of the first COPD exacerbation (ie day of visit for a moderate exacerbation or discharge date for a severe exacerbation). The baseline period was 12 months prior to index and the follow-up period (≥ 3 months) spanned from index until the earliest of health plan disenrollment, end of data availability (September 30, 2020), or death. Treatment patterns were evaluated during baseline and follow-up, with a focus on medication switching in the 90 days pre- and post-index.Results: COPD exacerbations were identified in 307,727 patients (125,942 severe; 181,785 moderate). Mean age at index was 72.8 years; 56.3% were female. Before and after first exacerbation, 37.7% and 48.2% of patients used ≥ 1 controller medication, respectively. In the 90 days pre-index, ICS, LABA, and LAMA medications were used by 27.5% of patients. Of these users, 64.3% remained on the same medication class, 21.7% discontinued, and 14.1% switched medication in the 90 days post-index. Among switchers, 44.0% switched to triple therapy. Most common switches were ICS/LABA to ICS/LABA/LAMA (20.7%) and LAMA to ICS/LABA/LAMA (16.4%).Conclusion: Many COPD exacerbations occur among patients not on controller medications. Although the percentage of patients receiving a controller medication increased following a first exacerbation, it remained below 50%. Of patients receiving controller medications pre-exacerbation, only a small proportion escalated to triple therapy post-exacerbation.Keywords: COPD, medication switching, medication discontinuation, single-inhaler triple therapy, FF/UMEC/VI

David Mannino,1 Michael Bogart,2 Guillaume Germain,3 Shirley P Huang,2 Afisi S Ismaila,4,5 François Laliberté,3 Young Jung,3 Sean D MacKnight,3 Marjorie A Stiegler,6,7 Mei Sheng Duh8 1Department of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA; 2GlaxoSmithKline, Value Evidence and Outcomes, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA; 3Groupe d’analyse, Ltée, Montréal, QC, Canada; 4GlaxoSmithKline, Value Evidence and Outcomes, Collegeville, PA, USA; 5Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada; 6GlaxoSmithKline, Medical Affairs, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA; 7Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; 8Analysis Group, Boston, MA, USACorrespondence: Michael Bogart, GlaxoSmithKline, Value Evidence and Outcomes, 5 Moore Drive, PO Box 13398, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709-3398, USA, Tel +1919-889-7413, Email michael.r.bogart@gsk.comPurpose: Triple therapy (TT; inhaled corticosteroid, long-acting muscarinic antagonist, and long-acting β2-agonist) is recommended for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at risk of exacerbation, although the optimum timing of TT initiation remains unclear. This study evaluated the impact of prompt versus delayed initiation of single-inhaler TT (fluticasone furoate, umeclidinium, and vilanterol [FF/UMEC/VI]) following a COPD exacerbation.Patients and Methods: This retrospective cohort study used data from the IQVIA PharMetrics® Plus database. Patients initiating FF/UMEC/VI following a COPD exacerbation between September 18, 2017 and September 30, 2019 (exacerbation = index date) were categorized as prompt (within 30 days of index) or delayed (31– 180 days after index) FF/UMEC/VI initiators. Patients were aged ≥ 40 years at index, had ≥ 12 months’ continuous health insurance coverage before index (baseline), and ≥ 6 months’ coverage after index (follow-up). Patients with a COPD exacerbation or claim for FF/UMEC/VI during baseline were excluded. Inverse probability weighting was used to adjust for differences in baseline characteristics between cohorts. Exacerbations (overall, moderate, and severe), healthcare costs, and readmissions were evaluated during follow-up.Results: A total of 1904 patients (prompt: 529; delayed: 1375) were included. After weighting, baseline characteristics were well balanced between cohorts. Patients in the prompt cohort had significantly lower rates per person-year (PPY) of overall (0.98 vs 1.23; rate ratio [RR] [95% CI] = 0.79 [0.65– 0.94], p = 0.004), moderate (0.86 vs 1.03; RR [95% CI] = 0.84 [0.69– 0.99], p = 0.038), and severe (0.11 vs 0.20; RR [95% CI] = 0.57 [0.37– 0.79], p = 0.002) exacerbations, compared with delayed initiators. Mean all-cause and COPD-related healthcare costs were significantly lower among prompt initiators (all-cause: $26,107 vs $32,400 PPY, p = 0.014; COPD-related: $12,694 vs $17,640 PPY, p = 0.002).Conclusion: Prompt initiation of FF/UMEC/VI following a moderate or severe COPD exacerbation was associated with significant reductions in exacerbations and healthcare costs relative to delayed initiation.Keywords: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, exacerbation, healthcare cost, single-inhaler triple therapy

Abstract Background The selection and the spread of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors to the main classes of insecticides used in vector control tools are a major and ongoing challenge to malaria vector control programmes. This study aimed to determine the intensity of vector resistance to insecticides in three regions of Benin with different agro-ecological characteristics. Methods Larvae of Anopheles gambiae sensu lato (s.l.) were collected from September to November 2017 in different larval sites in three northern Benin communes: Parakou, Kandi and Malanville. Two to five-day-old, non-blood-fed, female mosquitoes were exposed to papers impregnated with deltamethrin, permethrin and bendiocarb at dosages of 1 × the diagnostic dose, 5 × and 10 × to determine the intensity of resistance in these vectors. Molecular frequencies of the kdr L1014F and ace-1R G119S insecticide resistance mutations and levels of detoxification enzymes were determined for mosquitoes sampled at each study site. Results Resistance to pyrethroids (permethrin and deltamethrin) was recorded in all three communes with mortality rates below 60% using the diagnostic dose (1x). The results obtained after exposure of An. gambiae to permethrin 10 × were 99% in Kandi, 98% in Malanville and 99% in Parakou. With deltamethrin 10x, mortality rates were 100% in Kandi, 96% in Malanville and 73% in Parakou. For the diagnostic dose of bendiocarb, suspected resistance was recorded in the communes of Malanville (97%) and Kandi (94%) while sensitivity was observed in Parakou (98%).Using the 10 × dose, mortality was 98% in Kandi, 100% in Malanville and 99% in Parakou. The frequencies of the kdr L1014F allele varied between 59 and 83% depending on the sites and species of the An. gambiae complex, while the frequency of the ace-1R G119S gene varied between 0 and 5%. Biochemical tests showed high levels of oxidase and esterase activity compared to the susceptible colony strain of An. gambiae sensu stricto (Kisumu strain). Conclusion Anopheles gambiae showed a generalized loss of susceptibility to permethrin and deltamethrin but also showed moderate to high intensity of resistance in different regions of Benin. This high intensity of resistance is a potential threat to the effectiveness of vector control.

Abstract Background Insecticide resistance is threatening the effectiveness of efforts to control malaria vectors in Benin. This study explores the levels and mechanisms of insecticide resistance in An. gambiae s.l. to pyrethroids. Methods Larvae were collected from August 2017 to July 2018 in five communes in southern Benin (Adjohoun, Allada, Bohicon, Cotonou, and Porto-Novo) representing diverse ecological regions, and were reared in Benin’s insectary. Two- to five-day-old female mosquitoes from each district were exposed to multiple doses of deltamethrin and permethrin (1×, 2×, 5×, and 10×) using the WHO insecticide resistance intensity bioassay. The effect of pre-exposure to the synergist, piperonyl butoxide (PBO), was also tested at different pyrethroid doses. Molecular allele frequencies of kdr (1014F) and ace-1R (119S) insecticide resistance mutations and levels of detoxification enzymes were determined for mosquitoes sampled from each study area. Results An. gambiae s.l. were resistant to pyrethroid-only exposure up to 10× the diagnostic doses in all the study sites for both deltamethrin and permethrin. Mortality was significantly higher in An. gambiae s.l. pre-exposed to PBO followed by exposure to deltamethrin or permethrin compared to mosquitoes exposed to deltamethrin or permethrin only (p

Ravi Kalhan,1 David Slade,2 Riju Ray,2 Chad Moretz,3 Guillaume Germain,4 François Laliberté,4 Qin Shen,5 Mei Sheng Duh,6 Sean Dale MacKnight,4 Beth Hahn3 1Asthma and COPD Program, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA; 2US Medical Affairs, GlaxoSmithKline, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA; 3US Value Evidence and Outcomes, GlaxoSmithKline, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA; 4Groupe d’Analyse, Ltée, Montréal, QC, Canada; 5US Value Evidence and Outcomes, GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, PA, USA; 6Analysis Group, Inc., Boston, MA, USACorrespondence: Beth HahnUS Value Evidence and Outcomes, GlaxoSmithKline, 5 Moore Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709-3398, USATel +1 919-274-0660Email Beth.a.hahn@gsk.comBackground: Comorbidities in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are associated with increased medical costs and risk of exacerbations. This study compared COPD-related medical costs and exacerbations in high-cost, high-comorbidity patients with COPD receiving initial maintenance treatment (IMT) with umeclidinium/vilanterol (UMEC/VI) versus fluticasone propionate/salmeterol (FP/SAL), budesonide/formoterol (B/F), or tiotropium (TIO).Methods: This retrospective, matched cohort study identified patients from Optum’s de-identified Clinformatics Data Mart database who initiated UMEC/VI, FP/SAL, B/F, or TIO between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2018 (index date defined as date of the first fill). Eligibility criteria included age ≥ 40 years at index, ≥ 1 pre-index COPD diagnosis, no pre-index asthma diagnosis, 12 months of continuous insurance coverage pre-index, and high pre-index costs (≥ 80th percentile of IMT population) and comorbidities (Quan-Charlson comorbidity index ≥ 3). Propensity score matching was used to control for potential confounders. On-treatment COPD-related medical costs (primary endpoint) and exacerbations were evaluated.Results: Matched cohorts were well balanced on baseline characteristics (UMEC/VI vs FP/SAL: n=1194 each; UMEC/VI vs B/F: n=1441 each; UMEC/VI vs TIO: n=1277 each). Patients receiving UMEC/VI had significantly lower COPD-related medical costs versus FP/SAL (difference: $6587 per patient per year; P=0.048), and numerically lower costs versus B/F and TIO. Patients initiating UMEC/VI had significantly lower risk of COPD-related severe exacerbation versus FP/SAL (hazard ratio [95% CI]: 0.78 [0.62, 0.98]; P=0.032), B/F (0.77 [0.63, 0.95]; P=0.016), and TIO (0.79 [0.64, 0.98]; P=0.028). The rate of COPD-related severe exacerbations was significantly lower with UMEC/VI versus FP/SAL (rate ratio [95% CI]: 0.73 [0.59, 0.91]; P=0.008) and B/F (0.73 [0.59, 0.93]; P=0.012), and numerically lower versus TIO (0.83 [0.68, 1.04]; P=0.080).Conclusion: These findings suggest that high-cost, high-comorbidity patients with COPD receiving UMEC/VI compared with FP/SAL, B/F, and TIO as IMT may have lower medical costs and exacerbation risk.Keywords: COPD, LAMA/LABA, medical costs, comorbidities, severe exacerbations

Abstract Background Since 2008, Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) has been performed in Benin in 19 districts, including 4 in southern Benin, 9 in Atacora, and 8 in Atacora, Alibori and Donga in northern Benin. However, Benin still struggles with questions about IRS cost–benefit and epidemiological impact. Lessons learned and challenges from 10 years of IRS in Benin to be shared with the stakeholders involved in vector control implementation for decision-making. Methods Entomological parameters have been assessed entomological parameters in IRS communes since 2008. In all IRS intervention communes, decreases in human biting rate (HBR) of Anopheles gambiae, blood feeding inhibition and entomological inoculation rate (EIR) as compared to control district have been measured. Results EIR was reduced by 80–90%, which is encouraging, but should be observed with caution because: (i) the reduction may be insufficient to decrease epidemiological indicators given that the residual EIR in IRS districts is still higher than it is in some regions of stable malaria; (ii) the reduction in EIR is based on comparisons with control communes, but it is difficult to select control areas with the same environmental characteristics as intervention areas; (iii) despite the reduction, half of all mosquitoes that entered IRS-treated houses succeeded in taking human blood meals. Further, there are behaviours among Benin’s population that limit IRS efficacy, including recent data showing that > 90% of people are not protected by IRS between 7 and 10 p.m. This is due to the fact that they remain outdoors and that most people are not protected from mosquito bites after 10 p.m. because they either sleep outdoors without IRS protection or indoors without an ITN. Moreover, people have large amounts of clothing hanging on walls where mosquitoes can rest instead of IRS-treated walls. Finally, other components are important to consider in implementing IRS among which: (i) Vector resistance management strategies are sometimes poorly understood; this is actually different from the need to replace one insecticide with another after the emergence of resistance; (ii) African countries should prepare to finance IRS themselves. Conclusion To curtail residual malaria transmission, additional interventions able to target vectors escaping IRS should be prioritized.

Carlyne M Averell,1 François Laliberté,2 Mei Sheng Duh,3 Jennifer W Wu,2 Guillaume Germain,2 Sarai Faison4 1US Value Evidence and Outcomes, GlaxoSmithKline, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA; 2Groupe d’analyse, Ltée, Montreal, QC, Canada; 3Analysis Group, Inc, Boston, MA, USA; 4US Medical Affairs, GlaxoSmithKline, Research Triangle Park, NC, USACorrespondence: Carlyne M AverellUS Value Evidence and Outcomes, GlaxoSmithKline, 5 Moore Drive, PO Box 13398, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-3398, USATel +1 919 315 9835Email carlyne.m.averell@gsk.comBackground: Tiotropium bromide (TIO) is a long-acting muscarinic antagonist recommended as an add-on therapy option for patients with uncontrolled asthma on inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and long-acting β2-agonists (LABA). However, real-world data on TIO use in asthma remains limited. To identify unmet needs, this study explored the use of TIO in US patients with asthma.Methods: This retrospective cohort study used IQVIATM Health Plan Claims Data (October 1, 2014─December 31, 2016). Patients with asthma diagnoses initiating TIO 1.25 or 2.5 mcg after September 16, 2015 (first dispensing on index date) with ≥6 and ≥3 months continuous enrollment pre- and post-index, respectively, were identified. Patients with COPD diagnoses were excluded. Baseline characteristics, healthcare resource utilization and costs, and treatment patterns before and following TIO initiation were described for TIO cohorts and subgroups classified by concomitant medications received during the 30-day period after initiation.Results: The study included 766 TIO 1.25 mcg and 1055 TIO 2.5 mcg users. In the TIO 1.25 mcg cohort, 16% (126/766) used TIO monotherapy while 61% (465/766) used TIO+ICS/LABA± leukotriene receptor antagonists (triple therapy). In TIO 1.25 mcg monotherapy and triple therapy subgroups, 39% and 49% were treated by allergists/pulmonologists, 27% and 48% experienced a moderate/severe asthma exacerbation, and 50% and 68% used rescue oral corticosteroids during the baseline period, respectively. Following triple therapy initiation, 44% of patients discontinued ICS within 6 months. The TIO 2.5 mcg cohort demonstrated similar trends.Conclusion: This study provided insights into real-world US use of TIO in asthma. Overall, 16–19% of patients received TIO monotherapy and had high baseline exacerbation rates, suggesting that additional ICS-containing medication may be beneficial. Patients initiating triple therapy were among the most severe, with high baseline exacerbation rates and rescue medication use, and had high post-treatment ICS discontinuation rates, suggesting unmet needs in this population.Keywords: LAMA, tiotropium, asthma, treatment patterns, triple therapy

Michael Bogart,1 Richard H Stanford,1 François Laliberté,2 Guillaume Germain,2 Jennifer W Wu,2 Mei Sheng Duh3 1GlaxoSmithKline plc, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA; 2Groupe d’Analyse, Ltée, Montréal, QC, Canada; 3Analysis Group Inc., Boston, MA, USA Introduction: This longitudinal, retrospective cohort study of patients with COPD describes baseline characteristics, adherence, and persistence following initiation of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS)/long-acting β2-agonists (LABA)/long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMA) from multiple inhaler triple therapy (MITT).Methods: Patients aged ≥40 years receiving MITT between January 2012 and September 2015 were identified from the IQVIA™ Real-world Data Adjudicated Claims–USA database. MITT was defined as subjects with ≥1 overlapping days’ supply of three COPD medications (ICS, LABA, and LAMA). Adherence (proportion of days covered, PDC) and discontinuation (defined as a gap of 1, 30, 60, or 90 days of supply in any of the three components of the triple therapy) were calculated for each patient over 12 months of follow-up. In addition, analyses were stratified by number of inhalers.Results: In total, 14,635 MITT users were identified (mean age, 62 years). Mean PDC for MITT at 12 months was 0.37%. Mean PDC for the ICS/LABA and LAMA component at 12 months was 49% (0.49±0.31; median, 0.47) and 54% (0.54±0.33; 0.56), respectively. The proportion of adherent patients (PDC ≥0.8) at 12 months was 14% for MITT. Allowing for a 30-day gap from last day of therapy, 86% of MITT users discontinued therapy during follow-up.Conclusion: Patients with COPD had low adherence to and persistence with MITT in a real-world setting. Mean PDC for each single inhaler component was higher than the mean PDC observed with MITT. Reducing the number of inhalers may improve overall adherence to intended triple therapy. Keywords: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD, medication adherence, inhaled corticosteroids, ICS, long-acting β2-agonists, LABA, long-acting muscarinic antagonists, LAMA, multiple inhaler triple therapy

Jean-Pierre Llanos,1 Hector Ortega,2 Guillaume Germain,3 Mei Sheng Duh,4 Marie-Helene Lafeuille,3 Sean Tiggelaar,3 Christopher F Bell1, Beth Hahn1 1US Medical Affairs, GSK, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA; 2US Medical Affairs, GSK, La Jolla, CA, USA; 3Groupe d’Analyse, Ltée, Montréal, QC, Canada; 4Analysis Group, Inc., Boston, MA, USA Introduction: Asthma and COPD have overlapping characteristics. As there are limited data on whether asthma–COPD overlap (ACO) represents a distinct condition, this study aimed to determine the similarities and differences of ACO with asthma and COPD.Methods: US population-based, cross-sectional study using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data (2009–2012) compared participants with ACO vs those with asthma or COPD, each as mutually exclusive disease states. Demographics, health status, disability/limitations, health care resource utilization, clinical characteristics, and peripheral blood eosinophil counts were analyzed.Results: A total of 1,609, 479, and 299 participants with asthma, COPD, and ACO, respectively, were included. An age-matched asthma subgroup included 299 participants from the asthma group. Compared with asthma and COPD, participants with ACO had worse health status, increased disease burden, and more comorbid conditions. The ACO, vs age-matched asthma subgroup, had lower percent predicted prebronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second (82.1% vs 88.0%; P=0.017). The ACO group had significantly more asthma attacks in the past year than the age-matched asthma subgroup (49.8% vs 38.4%; P

Hector Ortega,1 Jean-Pierre Llanos,2 Marie-Hélène Lafeuille,3 Guillaume Germain,3 Mei Sheng Duh,4 Christopher F Bell,2 Susan R Sama,5 Beth Hahn2 1Respiratory, US Medical Affairs, GSK, La Jolla, CA, USA; 2Respiratory, US Medical Affairs, GSK Research Triangle Park, NC, USA; 3Groupe d’analyse, Ltée, Montréal, QC, Canada; 4Analysis Group, Inc., Boston, MA, USA; 5Research Department, Reliant Medical Group, Worcester, MA, USA Purpose: Based on blood and sputum samples, up to 40% of patients with COPD have eosinophilic inflammation; however, there is little epidemiology data characterizing the health care burden within this sub-population. Given that COPD-attributable medical costs in the USA are predicted to approach $50 billion by 2020, we analyzed the effect of blood eosinophil counts and exacerbations on health care resource utilization and costs. Patients and methods: This cross-sectional study used electronic medical records and insurance claims data from the Reliant Medical Group (January 2011–December 2015). Eligible patients were ≥40 years of age, continuously enrolled during the year of interest (2012, 2013, 2014, or 2015), had ≥1 COPD-related code in the preceding year, and documented maintenance therapy use. Patients with ≥1 blood eosinophil count recorded were stratified into 2 cohorts:

Abstract Background Studies evaluating the attrition, physical and insecticidal durability of dual active ingredient (AI) insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) are essential for making programmatic decisions regarding their deployment. We performed a prospective study embedded in a cluster randomised controlled trial (cRCT) to evaluate the attrition, fabric integrity and insecticidal durability of Interceptor® G2 (alpha-cypermethrin-chlorfenapyr) and Royal Guard® (alpha-cypermethrin–pyriproxyfen), compared to Interceptor® (alpha-cypermethrin) in Benin. Methods A total of 2428 study nets in 1093 randomly selected households in five clusters per arm of the cRCT were monitored for ITN attrition and fabric integrity every 6–12 months post-distribution. Householders were further surveyed to investigate non-study net use and their preference for ITN fabric types used in the study nets. A second cohort of 120 nets per ITN type were withdrawn every 12 months and assessed for chemical content and insecticidal activity in laboratory bioassays. Alpha-cypermethrin bioefficacy was investigated using the susceptible Anopheles gambiae Kisumu strain, and chlorfenapyr and pyriproxyfen bioefficacy were investigated using the pyrethroid-resistant Anopheles coluzzii Akron strain. Net pieces were tested in WHO cone bioassays and tunnel tests for alpha-cypermethrin and in tunnel tests for chlorfenapyr; pyriproxyfen activity was assessed in cone bioassays as the reduction in fertility of blood-fed survivors using ovary dissection. Bioefficacy was expressed as the proportion of ITNs passing predetermined WHO criteria, namely knock-down ≥ 95% or 24/72 h mortality ≥ 80% or reduction in fertility ≥ 50%. Results Overall ITN survivorship was 52% at 24 months and fell to 15% at 36 months. Median ITN survival time was lower with Royal Guard® relative to Interceptor® [1.6 vs 2.3 years; hazard ratio (HR) 1.49, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.36–1.66; p