Eli Lilly and Company Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
Background: On March 2020, the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization, and subsequently a national emergency was declared in the US concerning the outbreak.
Objectives: To characterize the epidemiology of COVID-19 in adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the US.
Methods: Medical claims of adults (≥18 years old) enrolled in the IBM MarketScan database between April 1, 2020 and August 31, 2020 were analyzed to estimate the incidence (per 100 person-years [PY]) and period prevalence (percentage) rates of COVID-19 (ICD-10 diagnosis code U07.1) at inpatient and outpatient settings among patients with COPD (ICD-10 diagnosis codes J44). Rates of hospitalized COVID-19 were reported by demographics and respiratory and other drug classes.
Results: A total of 101,377 adults with COPD (mean±SD age 65±13 years; 46% males) were included in the analysis. The prevalence rate of any COVID-19 and hospitalized COVID-19 among adults with COPD were 4% and 3.8%, respectively. The corresponding incidence rates were 112.3 and 65.2 per 100 PY. Age-specific prevalence and incidence (per 100 PY) rates of hospitalized COVID-19 among adults with COPD were: age 18-44 years (6.1% and 55); age 45-54 years (3.9% and 85.9); age 55-64 years (3.6% and 65.4); age 65-74 years (4.5% and 59); and age ≥75 years (3.5% and 63). Males with COPD had higher rates of inpatient COVID-19 than females (4.6% and 70.7 per 100 PY vs. 3.2% and 60.7 per 100 PY). Inpatient COVID-19 prevalence and incidence (per 100 PY) rates by drug classes were: systemic corticosteroids (3.3% and 87.4); inhaled steroids (2.9% and 46.2); inhaled bronchodilators, including adrenergics and anticholinergics (2.6% and 55.9); leukotriene blockers (2.5% and 54.9); xanthines (2.9% and 32.1); systemic antibiotics (3.4% and 77.9); immunosuppressants (2.1% and 68.8); and vaccines/immunoglobulins (0.4% and 27.8).
Conclusions: The prevalence of hospitalized COVID-19 appears higher in younger patients with COPD, with higher incidence among those aged 45-54 years. Patients treated with corticosteroids have higher rates compared to those treated with other anti-inflammatory respiratory drugs.
