AIM: Two inhaler devices (Respimat® and HandiHaler®) are available for tiotropium, a long-acting anticholinergic agent. We aimed to analyse drug utilization, off-label usage, and generalizability of the TIOSPIR trial results for both devices.
METHODS: Patients aged greater than or equal to 18 years exhibiting at least one documented prescription of tiotropium in the database of the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians, Bavaria, Germany, were included in the analysis (years 2004-2008). Annual period prevalence rates (PPRs) were calculated stratified by age, sex, and inhaler devices. Off-label usage (patients lacking a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) diagnosis) and the proportion of patients meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the TIOSPIR trial were analysed.
RESULTS: Between 2004 and 2008, PPRs increased and varied between 49.2 and 74.5 per 10,000 persons for HandiHaler® and between 1.5 and 9.3 per 10,000 persons for Respimat®. Only small differences regarding patient characteristics existed between the two inhaler devices. Only about 30% (HandiHaler® 32.1%; Respimat® 30.0%) of the database patients receiving tiotropium could be theoretically included in the TIOSPIR trial.
CONCLUSIONS: Comparing the two tiotropium devices, no clinically relevant differences regarding patient and prescribing characteristics were revealed. Results of the TIOSPIR trial were generalizable only to a minority of our study patients, underlining the need for real-life data.
