Journal Article

Single-Inhaler Triple Therapy in Primary Care Across Europe: Expert Panel Consensus on the Consequences of Payer-Driven Access Rules and Call to Action

Valipour, Arschang, Di Marco, Fabiano, Peché, Rudi, Jommi, Claudio, Vogelmeier, Claus, Winders, Tonya, Shahaj, Orjola, Micheletto, Claudio, Kocks, Janwillem, Roche, Nicolas, Legrand, Bertrand, Rubio, Myriam, Alves, Luis, Freeman, Daryl, Palkonen Snr, Susanna

2025

Overview

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a prevalent condition characterized by persistent airflow obstruction and respiratory symptoms. Single-Inhaler Triple Therapy (SITT) has been shown to improve patient adherence, reduce exacerbations, and lower healthcare resource utilization in patients who are not controlled despite being on dual therapy or Multiple-Inhaler Triple Therapy (MITT). Despite evidence supporting SITT, payer-driven access rules across Europe sometimes limit its use in primary care, creating barriers to optimal COPD management. Through expert consensus, the study seeks to generate a shared understanding of the unintended consequences of payer-driven access criteria for SITT in managing moderate-to-severe COPD in primary care. A targeted literature review (TLR) was conducted to assess SITT initiation in primary care across Europe and examine the impact of access criteria. Semi-structured interviews were held with 14 experts from nine European countries, including clinicians, health economists, and patient advocacy representatives. A consensus generation workshop was conducted, where experts evaluated the findings and developed position statements to highlight the challenges posed by payer-driven access criteria. The TLR identified variability in access to SITT in Europe, with several countries restricting its initiation to specialists, thus limiting primary care physicians' (PCPs) ability to prescribe SITT. The expert panel generated seven consensus points stating that enabling PCPs to step up or switch eligible patients to SITT has the potential to support care continuity, enhance clinical autonomy for PCPs, reduce reliance on potentially less effective treatment options, improve patient and healthcare system outcomes, avoid unnecessary referrals to specialists, enable prompt initiation of guideline-directed medical therapy for COPD in primary care and reduce access inequalities. Restrictions for SITT initiation in primary care may need to be revisited to mitigate their unintended health and cost consequences and improve equitable access to treatment. This should take into consideration each country's unique healthcare system.

• Publisher: Dove Medical Press Limited,Dove Medical Press Ltd,Dove Press,Dove,Dove Medical Press
• Subject: access / Administration, Inhalation / Adrenal Cortex Hormones - administration & dosage / Adrenal Cortex Hormones - adverse effects / Adrenal Cortex Hormones - economics / Bronchodilator Agents - administration & dosage / Bronchodilator Agents - adverse effects / Bronchodilator Agents - economics / Care and treatment / Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease / Consensus / COPD / Costs / Drug Costs - legislation & jurisprudence / Drug Therapy, Combination / Europe / expert consensus / Expert Opinion / Grey literature / Health care reform / Health Services Accessibility - economics / Health Services Accessibility - legislation & jurisprudence / Humans / Hypotheses / Inhalers / Insurance, Health, Reimbursement - economics / Insurance, Health, Reimbursement - legislation & jurisprudence / Interviews / Literature reviews / Lung - drug effects / Lung - physiopathology / Lung diseases, Obstructive / Medical care / Medical care, Cost of / Mortality / Nebulizers and Vaporizers - economics / Patient advocacy / Patient compliance / Patients / payer / Primary care / Primary Health Care - economics / Primary Health Care - legislation & jurisprudence / Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - diagnosis / Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - drug therapy / Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - economics / Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - physiopathology / Qualitative research / Quality of life / reimbursement / Respiratory agents / Single-inhaler triple therapy / Treatment Outcome / Utilization