Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a progressive lung disease characterized by obstruction to exhaling air and loss of lung tissue. It is caused primarily by inhaled toxicants and once prevention fails, it is an incurable disease. The main symptoms of COPD, which typically appear in middle adulthood, are shortness of breath, coughing, and mucus production. In Canada, COPD was the fifth leading cause of death in 2019, and was second only to pregnancy, as a leading medical cause of hospitalization.
Mohsen Sadatsafavi, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of British Columbia, is leading a research study aimed at evaluating the burden of COPD. This study is particularly timely, given the dynamic nature of COPD and the updated treatment guidelines in recent years. While there is robust evidence highlighting disparities in COPD outcomes based on socio-ecological and health system factors, particularly those linked to geographic location, there remains a significant gap in knowledge regarding regional variation in the burden of COPD.
“Despite the availability of integrated population datasets that include location-associated data, no evidence of this type exists in BC,” says Professor Sadatsafavi. “Evidence of regional variation in the burden of COPD and patterns of care can inform our understanding of drivers of burden and enable priority setting within the health system.” he further added.
The study’s primary objective is to determine regional variations in the care and burden of COPD, including key indicators such as COPD prevalence, incidence, mortality, hospitalization, and long-acting medication use. Within the domain of hospitalization, the research will specifically examine regional trends in COPD-specific hospitalizations, in-hospital mortality, average length of stay, and readmissions. Regarding medication use, it will assess regional trends in the proportion of long-acting inhaler users. Secondary objectives include investigating the extent of regional variability across the outcomes and exploring whether this variability can additionally be attributed to differences in population- and patient-related factors (such as age, sex, socioeconomic status, and urban/rural residence), as well as temporal trends. The main exposure of interest of the study is the health service delivery areas within BC.
PopData will link the following data sets from the BC Ministry of Health for the project: Vital Statistics Mortality; Medical Services Plan; Chronic Disease Registry; Discharge Abstract Database, National Ambulatory Care Reporting System, PharmaNet, Consolidation File and Home and Community Care Minimum Reporting Requirements.
The project is funded by AstraZeneca Canada*
*In accordance with policies for industry funding, the study is conducted at arm’s length from the industry sponsor and no industry sponsor employees, contractors or agents are part of the study team. The industry sponsor has no influence on study direction or analysis, and the industry sponsor has no access to data, other than final published results.
