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Table 3 Respiratory-related medical utilisation in the 12 months post-index date

From: Burden of asthma and COPD overlap (ACO) in Taiwan: a nationwide population-based study

Utilisation type

ACO cohort

(N = 22,328)

COPD cohort

(N = 69,648)

Asthma cohort

(N = 50,293)

p-value

(ACO vs COPD)

p-value

(ACO vs asthma)

p-value

(3 groups)

Medical utilisation (outpatient)

 Mean number of outpatient visits (SD)

9.14 (7.48)

6.43 (5.39)

5.68 (4.36)

< 0.0001

< 0.0001

< 0.0001

 Mean number of ER visits (SD)

2.01 (3.20)

1.43 (1.00)

1.42 (1.22)

< 0.0001

< 0.0001

< 0.0001

Medical utilisation (inpatient)

 Mean number of inpatient visits (SD)

1.93 (1.54)

1.68 (1.38)

1.38 (0.95)

< 0.0001

< 0.0001

< 0.0001

 Mean number of ICU admissions (SD)

1.31 (0.70)

1.20 (0.53)

1.14 (0.42)

< 0.0001

< 0.0001

< 0.0001

X-rays, n (%)

11,390 (51.0)

30,044 (43.1)

13,046 (25.9)

< 0.0001

< 0.0001

< 0.0001

Computed tomography, n (%)

2010 (9.0)

6293 (9.0)

1737 (3.5)

0.8800

< 0.0001

< 0.0001

Pulmonary function tests, n (%)

4724 (21.2)

10,157 (14.6)

7243 (14.4)

< 0.0001

< 0.0001

< 0.0001

Exacerbations, n (%)

 Event 1a

7883 (35.3)

12,934 (18.6)

14,583 (29.0)

< 0.0001

< 0.0001

< 0.0001

 Event 2b

2207 (9.9)

3658 (5.3)

1876 (3.7)

< 0.0001

< 0.0001

< 0.0001

 Event 3c

3083 (13.8)

5068 (7.3)

2577 (5.1)

< 0.0001

< 0.0001

< 0.0001

  1. Differences between variables were assessed using the chi-squared test (categorical variables) or the student’s t-test (continuous variables). All tests were two-sided and p-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant
  2. ACO asthma-COPD overlap, COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ER emergency room, ICD-9-CM International Classification of Disease, ninth revision, clinical modification, ICU intensive care unit, SD standard deviation
  3. aEvent 1 for:
  4. • COPD: visits with ICD-9 code of 491, 492 or 496 with prescription of systemic corticosteroids for <14 days
  5. • Asthma: visits with ICD-9 code of 493 with prescription of systemic corticosteroids for <14 days
  6. • ACO: combination of COPD and asthma event
  7. bEvent 2 for:
  8. • COPD: visits with ICD-9 code of 491, 492 or 496, and 480–486, with prescription of systemic corticosteroids for <14 days
  9. • Asthma: visits with ICD-9 code of 493 and 480–486, with prescription of systemic corticosteroids for <14 days
  10. • ACO: combination of COPD and asthma event
  11. cEvent 3 for:
  12. • COPD: visits with ICD-9 code of 491.21 with prescription of systemic corticosteroids for <14 days
  13. • Asthma: visits with ICD-9-CM code of 493.92 with prescription of systemic corticosteroids for <14 days
  14. • ACO: combination of COPD and asthma event
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BMC Pulmonary Medicine

ISSN: 1471-2466

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