Does Cardiovascular Comorbidity Influence the Prescribing of Bronchodilators in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most prevalent comorbidity for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Potential adverse cardiovascular events of bronchodilators warrant their cautionary use in the comorbid COPD-CVD population, yet little is known about the prescribing of bronchodilators in this high-risk patient group. Objective: To determine whether comorbid CVD is associated with reduced bronchodilator prescribing in patients with COPD. In addition, we explored how the association was modified by gender, concurrent asthma, and concomitant β-blocker (BB) use. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using the 2010 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. All visits among diagnosed COPD patients 40 years and older were examined. Logistic regression on survey-weighted data was used to predict treatment with bronchodilators and determine the influence of gender, asthma, and BBs on bronchodilator prescribing. Results: Among 11 627 061 ambulatory COPD visits, we found a significan...