Risk of hospitalizations/emergency department visits and treatment costs associated with initial maintenance therapy using fluticasone propionate 500 µg/salmeterol 50 µg compared with ipratropium for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in older adults

Conclusions: Compared with the IPR cohort, the FSC 500/50 cohort was 45% less likely to have a COPD-related exacerbation event and had similar medical costs. FSC 500/50 was a more effective initial maintenance therapy than IPR for this Medicare population, and, despite the $260 increase in COPD-related pharmacy costs, there was no significant difference in COPD-related medical costs.