Digital Inhaler May Predict Acute COPD Exacerbations
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter
TUESDAY, July 1, 2025 -- Digital inhalers may help predict the occurrence of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for patients in an ambulatory setting, according to a study published online in the May issue of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases.
M. Bradley Drummond, M.D., from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and colleagues examined variation in digital inhaler (ProAir Digihaler; Teva)-measured physiologic and inhaler use metrics in ambulatory patients with COPD in advance of acute exacerbations of COPD. The analysis included 9,649 inhalations among 40 participants in a phase 4, open-label, three-month pilot study. Participants had a history of two moderate or one severe acute exacerbation of COPD in the prior 12 months.
The researchers found that across all inhalations, the mean peak inspiratory flow (PIF) was 67.6 L/min and mean inhalation volume was 1.40 L. During the 14 days preceding acute exacerbations of COPD, there were statistically significant reductions in mean inhalation volume (1.45 versus 1.08 L), inhalation duration (1,876 versus 1,492.1 msec), and time to peak (500 versus 376.27 msec). There were no significant changes observed in PIF (67.2 versus 63.3 L/min) or number of inhalations per day (2.65 versus 3.65).
"While this study examined a small group of participants, the remote monitoring data showed people experienced significant decreases in the amount of air they inhaled and how long that inhalation lasted in the approximately two weeks prior to experiencing an exacerbation," Drummond said in a statement. "As these remote monitoring technologies get more advanced, we can help both patients and health care providers identify exacerbations earlier, which allows us to provide better exacerbation management and improve health outcomes."
Several authors reported financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry, including Teva, the maker of the ProAir Digihaler.
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted July 2025
Read this next
Cardiorespiratory Effects of Smoke Fine Particulate Matter From Wildfires Can Persist for Months
THURSDAY, June 5, 2025 -- The cardiorespiratory effects of smoke fine particulate matter (PM2.5), a primary wildfire emission that can spike for months after a wildfire begins...
Multiple Environmental Exposures Jointly Contribute to Asthma Risk
WEDNESDAY, May 28, 2025 -- Air pollution, built environment, and ambient temperature jointly contribute to incident asthma risk, according to a study published online May 15 in...
Persistent, New Mucus Plugs Associated With Faster Decline in FEV1 in COPD
WEDNESDAY, May 21, 2025 -- For patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), persistent and newly formed mucus plugs are associated with a faster decrease in forced...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.