Recent research suggests that bronchiectasis (BE) may be more common than previously believed and that comorbid chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is widespread in this patient population. Little is known about the economic burden among patients with BE, and less is known about the burden among those with comorbid BE + COPD. A retrospective matched-cohort design and data from a US health-care claims repository were employed. From the source population comprising adults who had comprehensive medical/drug benefits for ≥1 day in 2013 (i.e. the referent year) and evidence of BE and/or COPD at any time from 2009 to 2013, patients with BE + COPD were age/sex-matched (1:1:1) to patients with BE only and patients with COPD only. For each matched subgroup, annualized levels of respiratory-related and all-cause health-care utilization and expenditures in 2013 were summarized. Source population included 679,679 patients; among those with BE ( n = 31,027), 50% had comorbid COPD. Mean (95% CI) annual levels of respiratory-related utilization and expenditures among matched patients with BE + COPD ( n = 11,685) were higher by 2.4-3.5 times versus patients with BE only and 2.0-2.5 times versus patients with COPD only: hospitalizations, 0.39 (0.37-0.41) versus 0.11 (0.09-0.12) and 0.16 (0.14-0.17); ambulatory encounters, 16.5 (16.1-16.9) versus 6.8 (6.6-7.0) and 8.2 (7.9-8.4); and total expenditures, US$15,685 (14,693-16,678) versus US$5605 (5059-6150) and US$6262 (5655-6868). Respiratory-related utilization and expenditures are high among patients with BE or COPD receiving medical care in US clinical practice and are especially high among those with comorbid BE + COPD receiving medical care, emphasizing the importance of identifying and treating this unique patient population. Funding for this research was provided by RespirTech to Policy Analysis Inc. (PAI).
