Managed care patients (aged \>40 years) who were fluticasone propionate/salmeterol xinafoate combination (FSC)-naive in the 12 months pre-index period. The index-date was the date of discharge of the index Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)-related hospitalization/Emergency Department (ED) visit. Eligible patients were required to newly initiate or switch to drug therapy with FSC or ipratropium (IPR) / tiotropium (TIO) during the identification period (01/01/2004 to 01/31/2008) to treat COPD. Patients who switched to another maintenance medication or had an exacerbation in the treatment assessment period (30-days post-index date) were excluded from the study. Follow-up period was 12 months post treatment assessment period. Patients classified as being on FSC 250/50 versus anticholinergics (TIO, IP or IPR). Examined risk of COPD-related exacerbations such as hospitalizations, emergency department (ED) visits, COPD-related physician/outpatient visit with oral corticosteroid (OCS) or antibiotic prescription (ABX) within 5 days of physician/outpatient visit and COPD-related medical, pharmacy, and total healthcare costs in follow-up period.
