Understanding the Diagnosis and Treatment of COPD and Asthma to Better Inform Site Selection and Patient Recruitment Planning

There is an increasing worldwide population of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. Mortality from COPD is expected to double over the next 3 decades, making it the third leading cause of death worldwide. It is estimated that as many as 300 million people of all ages and all ethnic backgrounds worldwide suffer from asthma. Devising and implementing a successful strategy for the execution of COPD and asthma trials requires a multifaceted approach, coupled with an understanding of the factors that drive patient recruitment. However, little has been written about recruitment and the comparative success of different recruitment strategies. This paper focuses on results obtained from various assessments of treatment guidelines compliance, patient diagnosis and treatment, approved therapies, and patient profiles that have helped provide insight into critical factors to help drive country, site, and patient recruitment strategies.