Wei YJ et al. – This retrospective longitudinal cohort study examined the association between antidepressant treatment and adherence to COPD maintenance medication use in patients with new–onset COPD and comorbid depression (N = 25,458). Antidepressant treatment may improve adherence to COPD medications.

Methods

• Exposure to antidepressant use (versus non–use), and adherence to COPD maintenance inhaler use and adherence outcomes were measured by proportion of days covered (PDC), assessed quarterly.

Results

• Patients were followed for a median of 2.5 years, and 82% were on antidepressant treatment.
• Around 48% of them used at least 1 COPD maintenance inhaler in any given quarter; 61% of the users had a PDC of <0.8.
• Compared to patients with no antidepressant treatment, those with antidepressant use were more likely to use and adhere to their COPD maintenance inhalers.