Comorbidities and Healthcare Utilisation: Indicators for Improving COPD Diagnosis

Using real-world primary care clinical databases, ascertain whether 1) trends in respiratory resource utilisation prior to COPD diagnosis (including lower respiratory tract infections \[LRTIs\], consultations and hospitalisations) could be used as 'flags' to aid earlier diagnosis, and 2) characterize comorbid conditions present at the time of COPD diagnosis, and evaluate the relationship to COPD disease severity and age at diagnosis.