Healthcare costs of COPD in Italian referral centres: A prospective study

Background: This study estimated the healthcare resource utilisation and costs of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, staged by severity, in the Italian pneumology departments (PDs). Methods: The project was a multi-centre observational study conducted in 11 Italian PDs throughout the country. A total of 268 patients were recruited and followed prospectively for 1 year. For the purpose of analysis, patients were divided into four groups according to the severity at onset: circle mild COPD (stage I)-postbronchoditator FEV,/FVC <70% and FEVI >= 80% of predicted; circle moderate COPD (stage II)-postbronchodilator FEV,/FVC <70% and 50% <= FEV1< 80% of predicted; circle severe COPD (stage I I I)-postbronchoditator FEV1/ FVC < 70% and 30% <= FEV1 < 50% of predicted; circle very severe COPD (stage IV)-postbronchoditator FEV1/ FVC < 70% and FEV1 < 30% of predicted, or clinical signs of either respiratory or cardiac failure.