End-of-Life Spending and Healthcare Utilization Among Older Adults with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States (US), and adults aged 75 years and older will account for half of the COPD population in the coming decade.1,2 Total direct costs attributable to COPD in the US will reach an estimated $50 billion dollars by 2020, half of which are paid for by Medicare.3 A significant portion of spending for the care of older adults is devoted to acute care at the end of life, and in cancer, this spending exhibits significant geographic variation.