Australian research identifies significant opportunity to reduce major cardiac and respiratory events in people with COPD, a leading cause of preventable hospitalisations
- shilpa212
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
This real-world study of Australian primary care data shows that high-risk* COPD, characterised by recent breathing flare-ups, is widespread, with 25% of patients with an existing diagnosis and over 35% of patients with a new diagnosis meeting high-risk criteria. The authors highlight that over 40% of patients diagnosed with COPD who are considered high-risk have no recorded maintenance inhaler therapy. In contrast, 16% of patients identified as potentially high-risk, but without a COPD diagnosis, were receiving prescribed reliever or maintenance inhaled therapy (shown in Figure 1).
Further findings showed that in 2019 the already diagnosed high-risk COPD population could benefit from:
Cardiac risk screening (92.9% of patients without an existing cardiac diagnosis)
Spirometry or peak flow testing (87.5% of patients)
Pneumococcal vaccination (90.4% of patients)
Influenza vaccination (67.7% of patients)
Electronic medical records from a large primary care database, the Optimum Patient Care Research Database Australia (OPCRDA), were analysed to focus on how quality standards from the global CONQUEST program can identify and highlight opportunities to maximise high-risk COPD care. This study Patterns of care in the management of high-risk COPD in Australia (2015–2019): an observational study for the CONQUEST quality improvement program” is the latest release in a series of publications on the disease management and treatment of high-risk COPD patients, this study builds on the successes of studies in the UK and the US.
Professor David Price, founder of the Observational and Pragmatic Research Institute (OPRI), commented, "The findings from this study highlight an opportunity to potentially reduce symptoms, exacerbations, and future cardiac events in high-risk COPD patients by implementing the actionable CONQUEST quality standards in Australian primary care’’.
To view the full results of the CONQUEST Opportunity analysis in Australia, as well as further comments and information regarding the scope for change, read the full paper at The Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific.
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*Patients at high-risk were identified as those who had experienced ≥2 exacerbations, or probable exacerbations (for patients with suspected but undiagnosed COPD) in the previous 24 months. COPD (or probable COPD) exacerbations were defined as any of the following within patients’ EMR: explicit COPD exacerbation codes, key words or free text denoting COPD exacerbation, or a prescription of acute oral corticosteroids and/or antibiotics unless associated with coded evidence of alternative indication such as skin or urine infections and conditions requiring long-term or recurrent courses of oral steroids or prophylactic antibiotics.
About COPD
COPD is a significant public health issue in Australia, with approximately 5% of adults over the age of 45 diagnosed according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare in 2020. Characterised by persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation, COPD is one of the leading causes of disease burden and hospitalisation. COPD often remains underdiagnosed and undertreated, highlighting the need for improved awareness, early detection, and access to effective management strategies.
About CONQUEST
CONQUEST is a collaborative, interventional COPD registry that drives long-term, targeted, patient-centred changes in COPD management. The promotion of expert and guideline-led care aims to reduce exacerbation frequency and improve health care outcomes. It comprises an integrated quality improvement program focusing on patients (diagnosed and undiagnosed) at a modifiable and higher risk of COPD exacerbations. CONQUEST is underpinned by four evidence-based Quality Standards developed by 11 experts internationally recognized in their field. CONQUEST is co-funded by AstraZeneca and OPC.
About OPCA/OPCRDA
Optimum Patient Care Research Database Australia (OPCRDA) is a not-for-profit research database established and maintained by Optimum Patient Care Australia Pty Ltd (OPCA) – a social enterprise which provides accredited quality improvement programs to support healthcare providers across Australia with management of patients with chronic diseases.
