Comparative Effectiveness of Symbicort vs. Spiriva among COPD patients

Inclusion Criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• - Continuous health plan enrollment for 12 months before and after index Rx
• - At least one prescription fill for BFC or tiotropium bromide during intake period, and naive to ICS/LABA combination or LAMA therapies in year prior to first prescription claim.
• - COPD diagnosis, and aged 40 years of age at time of first prescription
• - At risk population for COPD exacerbations
• Exclusion Criteria:
• - ICS/LABA combination or LAMA therapy during pre-index period
• - Patients with prescription claim for budesonide/formoterol and tiotropium bromide on the same day
• - Patients diagnosed with cancer
• - Patients with long-term OCS medication use during pre-index period