Age- and gender-based comorbidity categories in general practitioner and pulmonology patients with COPD

authored by: Su Jong Kim-Dorner, Torben Schmidt, Alexander Kuhlmann, Johann Matthias Graf von der Schulenburg, Tobias Welte, Heidrun Lingner
Abstract: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a debilitating medical condition often accompanied by multiple chronic conditions. COPD is more frequent among older adults and affects both genders. The aim of the current cross-sectional survey was to characterize chronic comorbidities stratified by gender and age among patients with COPD under the care of general practitioners (GP) and pulmonologists, using real-world patient data. A total of 7966 COPD patients (women: 45%) with more than 5 years of the observation period in the practice were examined using 60 different Chronic comorbid conditions (CCC) and Elixhauser measures. More than 9 in 10 patients had at least one, and 51.7% had more than three comorbidities. No gender difference was found in the number of comorbidities. However, men had higher Elixhauser-van Walraven index scores than women, and the types of comorbidities differed by gender. An increasing number of comorbidities was seen with aging but the patients in their 30s and 40s also had a high number of comorbidities. Moreover, GP patients had a higher number and a wider array of documented comorbidities than pulmonology patients did. Psychological comorbidities were common in all patients, but particularly among younger patients. These findings around gender- and age-stratified comorbidities under the care of GPs and pulmonologists have implications for the choice of data provenience for decision-making analysis and treatment selection and success.
Organisation(s): Center for Health Economics Research Hannover (CHERH)
External Organisation(s): Hannover Medical School (MHH)
Biomedical Research in Endstage & Obstructive Lung Disease (BREATH)
Type: Article
Journal: npj Primary Care Respiratory Medicine
Volume: 32
ISSN: 2055-1010
Publication date: 12.2022
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine, Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health, Family Practice
Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1038/s41533-022-00278-8 (Access: Open)