Pulmonary Rehabilitation Utilization in Older Adults with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, 2013-2019

Rationale: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is very effective in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for improving exercise tolerance and functional capacity, alleviating dyspnea, and improving respiratory quality of life. Access to and use of PR remain poor. Objectives: To assess the trends in PR use and factors associated with PR use in adults with COPD. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the use of PR in adults with COPD using a 20% Medicare beneficiary population from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2019. Adults with COPD were identified by 1) two or more outpatient visits >30 days apart within 1 year with an encounter diagnosis of COPD or 2) hospitalization with COPD as the primary diagnosis or a primary diagnosis of acute respiratory failure with a secondary discharge diagnosis of COPD. PR use in each calendar year was identified using Current Procedural Terminology and Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System codes. Factors associated with PR use were tested in bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models. Results: There was a gradual but modest increase in the percentage of patients with COPD using PR; the proportion increased from 2.5% in 2013 to 4.0% in 2019. Overall, the percentage of patients using PR remained low. Factors associated with higher odds of using PR included younger age (66-74 yr), White race, higher socioeconomic status, lower comorbidity score, residence in a metropolitan urban area, and sole or comanagement by a pulmonologist. Conclusions: The use of PR by Medicare beneficiaries with COPD has not changed meaningfully in the past decade and remains low.