This study aimed to evaluate the real-world impacts of a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) care pathway program on healthcare utilization and costs in Saskatchewan, Canada.
A difference-in-differences evaluation of a real-life deployment of a COPD care pathway, using patient-level administrative health data in Saskatchewan, was conducted. The intervention group (n = 759) included adults (35+ years) with spirometry-confirmed COPD diagnosis recruited into the care pathway program in Regina between April 1, 2018 and March 31, 2019. The 2 control groups comprised adults (35+ years) with COPD who lived in Saskatoon during the same period (n = 759) or Regina between April 1, 2015 and March 31, 2016 (n = 759) who did not participate in the care pathway.
Compared with the individuals in the Saskatoon control groups, individuals in the COPD care pathway group had shorter inpatient hospital length of stay (average treatment effect on the treated [ATT] −0.46, 95% CI −0.88 to −0.04) but a higher number of general practitioner visits (ATT 1.46, 95% CI 1.14 to 1.79) and specialist physician visits (ATT 0.84, 95% CI 0.61 to 1.07). Regarding healthcare costs, individuals in the care pathway group had higher COPD-related specialist visit costs (ATT $81.70, 95% CI $59.45 to $103.96) but lower COPD-related outpatient drug dispensation costs (ATT −$4.81, 95% CI −$9.34 to −$0.27).
The care pathway reduced inpatient hospital length of stay, but increased general practitioner and specialist physician visits for COPD-related services within the first year of implementation.