Inhaled therapy is fundamental in all classes of COPD patients. The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) report provides a strategy for the assessment and management of COPD and suggests categorizing these patients into four groups, A–D, based on symptoms and exacerbation history. The significant economic burden imposed by COPD continues to increase both in terms of direct and indirect healthcare costs. By 2030, COPD is projected to be the third leading cause of mortality globally. COPD affects an estimated 210 million people worldwide. The preparation of this manuscript was funded by Novartis Pharma AG.Ĭhronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an increasingly common respiratory disease caused by substantial long-term exposure to noxious particles or gases and marked by persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation.
The introduction of new LABA/LAMA FDCs, new inhaler devices, and more clinical studies have created confusion among physicians in choosing the optimal inhaled therapy for COPD patients in this context, this review attempts to provide an evidence-based framework for informed decision-making with a particular focus on the inhaler devices.įunding. This review objectively examines and compares the major inhaler devices used to deliver different LABA/LAMA FDCs, discusses the inhaler device characteristics that determine drug deposition in the airways, real-life preference for inhaler devices, and handling of inhaler devices that impact the results of the long-term management of COPD. Optimal disease control is also highly dependent upon patient preferences and adherence to inhaler devices. In this regard, global COPD treatment guidelines have recognized the importance of inhaler devices as integral contributors to the effectiveness of LABA/LAMA FDCs and recommend regular assessment of inhaler device use by the patients in order to improve long-term clinical outcomes. Inhaled fixed-dose combinations (FDCs) of a long-acting β-agonist (LABA) and a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) have become the cornerstone for the maintenance treatment of symptomatic COPD patients.
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