Perception of COPD control by physicians managing symptomatic exacerbating patients receiving inhaled triple therapy: a real-world multi-country 2022 survey

<bold>Objective:</bold> To describe the perception of COPD control in physicians managing symptomatic and exacerbating patients receiving triple therapy (TT). <bold>Methods:</bold> Data were drawn from the Adelphi COPD Disease Specific Programme™, a cross-sectional survey on 4372 individuals with COPD in France, Italy, Germany, Spain, UK, China and US. Physicians completed a questionnaire on patient- and disease-related characteristics and their perception of disease control. For this analysis, patients with smoking history, productive cough, ≥2 moderate or ≥1 severe exacerbation in prior year and on TT, were described overall and by exacerbation frequency, oxygen therapy (OT, ambulatory/long-term vs none) and smoking (past vs current) status. <bold>Results:</bold> 399 (9%) patients were identified [mean age, 69 (SD, 9.2), 72% male]; 159 (40%) had ≥3 exacerbations in the prior year, 140 (35%) received OT, 234 (59%) were categorized as GOLD 3-4 and 312 (78%) had a dyspnea scale score ≥2. From options provided in the questionnaire, 292 (73%) physicians perceived COPD as “somewhat” to “well” controlled. Moreover, 214 (54%) believed the “best possible” COPD control was achieved. In specific subgroups, the “best possible control” option was chosen by 59% (94/159) for patients with ≥3 exacerbations in prior year and by 63% (88/140) for patients on OT. No difference was observed in relation to smoking. <bold>Conclusion:</bold> In this symptomatic and exacerbating population on TT, most physicians consider little room for COPD control improvement, particularly in frequently exacerbating patients, and those on OT. This may reflect limited therapeutic options at present.