Abstract
Objective:
To evaluate the economic implications of prescribing for asthma/COPD.
Design:
Analysis of computerised prescribing records over a six month period.
Setting:
Nine general practices in the UK.
Subjects:
Two hundred and twenty seven patients diagnosed as ‘asthma’, 193 patients diagnosed as ‘COPD’, all of whom were most likely to have COPD.
Results:
Prescribing costs were £51,920. Inhaled corticosteroids had been prescribed for 81% of patients; reducing this to 20% would generate savings of £21,834.
Conclusion:
The use of COPD guidelines in general practice may release savings to improve accuracy of diagnosis, treatment and clinical outcomes.
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Peperell, K., Rudolf, M., Pearson, M. et al. General practitioner prescribing habits in asthma/COPD. Prim Care Respir J 5, 29–30 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1038/pcrj.1997.24
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/pcrj.1997.24