Exacerbation and hospitalisation due to exacerbation have been identified as the outcomes that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients rate as most important, according to a new systematic review published in the European Respiratory Journal.
The researchers sought to assess the relative importance of outcomes from the perspective of COPD patients.
Two authors independently determined the eligibility of studies, resulting in a systematic review of a total of 217 studies including: patient utility and health state value studies; direct choice studies; and other quantitative studies in outcome importance.
Eligible studies were narratively summarised and meta-analysed for individual outcomes, and the certainty of evidence was assessed using the GRADE approach. The authors note that studies included in the review were highly variable in their designs, measurement instruments used and outcomes addressed.
The analysis found that, overall, patients rated exacerbations of COPD or hospitalisation due to exacerbations as very important. Studies also consistently reported that the utility associated with living with COPD decreased as the disease progressed. The data also shows that patients considered symptom relief important, and more important than adverse events from treatment.
The researchers say that the review helps researchers to identify research gaps for designing new studies.