Cost-effectiveness of integrated disease management for high risk, exacerbation prone, patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a primary care setting

Abstract

Highlights I. Interventions that can reduce the frequency and severity of exacerbations in patients who suffer from COPD have the potential to reduce the financial burden of COPD on the health system; II. This is the first study that demonstrates the cost-effectiveness of integrated disease management for patients who suffer from COPD within a primary care environment; III. This study makes the case for embedding Certified Respiratory Educators (CREs) within the primary care environment to improve the quality of life of patients who suffer from COPD, as well as alleviating unnecessary health services utilization and decreasing the overall financial burden of the disease on the health system.

Keywords

• COPD
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Cost-effectiveness
• Cost-utility
• Integrated disease management
• Primary care