Use of ICS/LABA Combinations or LAMA Is Associated with a Lower Risk of Acute Exacerbation in Patients with Coexistent COPD and Asthma

Background: Based on current guidelines, more research is urgently needed to guide appropriate treatment for patients with asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) overlap.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate medication effects on acute exacerbation in patients with coexistent COPD and asthma.

Methods: Using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, we conducted a nationwide population-based study to evaluate medication effects in patients with COPD and asthma. Patients diagnosed with both asthma and COPD between 1997 and 2012 were enrolled as the COPD + asthma cohort. The primary endpoint was acute exacerbation. The definitions of COPD and asthma were validated. The validation study confirmed the accuracy of definitions of COPD (86.2% sensitivity) and asthma (92.0% sensitivity).

Results: The study included 251,398 patients with COPD + asthma and 514,522 patients with COPD alone, with a mean follow-up period of 9.85 years. After adjustment, hazard ratios (HRs) for long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) and inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting β-agonist (ICS/LABA) combinations were lower (time-dependent model, 1 year: LAMA, HR 0.51, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.49-0.54; ICS/LABA combinations, HR 0.61, 95% CI 0.60-0.62; all P < .0001) than were those for LABAs or ICSs in patients with COPD and asthma.

Conclusions: The use of LAMA or ICS/LABA combinations was associated with a lower risk of acute exacerbation in patients with COPD and asthma in this study.