• Ramune Jacobsen, Ola Ekholm, Niels K Rasmussen, Ebba Holme Hansen, and Anne Frølich.
• Research Unit for Dietary Studies, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg University Hospital, Frederiksberg, Denmark. ramune.jacobsen@regionh.dk.
• Respir Care. 2016 Jul 1; 61 (7): 943-9.

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to examine socioeconomic variations in the use of prescription medicines among elderly subjects with COPD.MethodsData from the Danish national administrative registers were used. The study population included 1,365 individuals >60 y old residing in the Municipality of Copenhagen and diagnosed with COPD in a hospital setting in 2007. Logistic regression analysis was applied to examine the associations between the use of all prescription medicines for obstructive pulmonary diseases and the use of long-acting bronchodilators, in subject groups of different socioeconomic position.ResultsThe study demonstrated that approximately 90% of subjects with COPD purchased at least one prescription medicine for obstructive pulmonary diseases, whereas approximately 50% purchased a long-acting bronchodilator. Medicine use did not vary according to educational status or personal wealth.ConclusionsThere were no systematic socioeconomic differences in the use of relevant prescription medicines in elderly subjects diagnosed with COPD in hospital settings in Copenhagen. However, our findings indicate a gap between guideline recommendations and observed use of long-acting bronchodilators and hence suboptimal quality of treatment in the elderly COPD population.Copyright © 2016 by Daedalus Enterprises.

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