Pulmonary Rehabilitation Utilization in Older Adults With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, 2013 to 2019

Rationale: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is very effective in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for improving exercise tolerance and functional capacity, alleviating dyspnea, and improving respiratory-quality of life. Access to and utilization of PR remains poor. Objective: To assess the trends in PR utilization and factors associated with its use in adults with COPD. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the utilization of PR in adults with COPD using a 20% Medicare beneficiary population from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2019. Adults with COPD were identified by (1) ≥2 outpatient visits >30 days apart within 1 year with an encounter diagnosis of COPD or (2) hospitalization with COPD as the primary diagnosis or a primary diagnosis of acute respiratory failure with a secondary discharge diagnosis of COPD. PR utilization in each calendar year was identified using current procedural terminology and healthcare common procedure coding system codes. Factors associated with PR utilization were tested in bivariate and multivariable regression logistic models. Measurements and Main Results: There was a gradual but modest increase in the percentage of COPD patients utilizing PR; the proportion increased from 2.5% in 2013 to 4.0% in 2019. Overall, the percentage utilizing PR remained low. Factors associated with higher odds of utilizing PR included younger age (66-74 years), White race, higher socioeconomic status, lower comorbidity score, residence in metropolitan urban areas, and sole or co-management by a pulmonologist. Conclusion: Utilization of PR by Medicare beneficiaries with COPD has not changed meaningfully in the past decade and remains low.