Two-Thirds of COPD Hospitalized Patients Misuse Inhalers
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter
FRIDAY, Aug. 23, 2024 -- Among patients hospitalized with a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), two-thirds of inhalers assessed at admission are misused, according to a study published in the July issue of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases.
Gaël Grandmaison, M.D., from the University and Hospital of Fribourg in Switzerland, and colleagues describe the prevalence of misused inhalers among patients hospitalized with COPD in a department of general internal medicine. The analysis included 96 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of COPD and hospitalized in the internal medicine division between August 2022 and April 2023.
The researchers found that of the 160 inhalers assessed at admission, 69.4 percent were misused, including 65.6 percent due to the presence of a critical error in the inhalation technique and 13.8 percent due to insufficient peak inspiratory flow. Additionally, 16.9 percent of inhalers were unsuitable, while 82.3 percent of patients used at least one misused inhaler.
"Education is key to increasing the effectiveness of inhaled medications, and many clinicians -- and often even the patients themselves -- are unaware that patients are having difficulty getting enough medication into their lungs," coauthor Valerie G. Press, M.D., M.P.H., from the University of Chicago, said in a statement. "Additional inhaler technique education is needed to ensure patients are using the device correctly, especially when multiple inhaled medications are prescribed. Additional education, supported by the necessary resources, would help ensure patients are receiving optimal treatment and avoiding adverse health outcomes."
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 August 2024
Read this next
Pulmonary Embolism More Common in Children Than Previously Thought
THURSDAY, May 22, 2025 -- Pulmonary embolism (PE) is more common in children than previously thought, according to a study presented at the American Thoracic Society 2025...
Half of Youth-Serving Clinicians Screen for Substance Use Disorder at Every Well Visit
THURSDAY, May 22, 2025 -- Just over half of youth-serving clinicians report that they routinely screen adolescents for substance use disorders (SUDs) at every well visit...
Pediatric Magnet Ingestion Rates Still High
THURSDAY, May 22, 2025 -- Global pediatric magnet ingestion rates remain high and incidence has increased, despite the implementation of national policies, according to a review...
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.