FIDEPOC: Consensus on Inspiratory Flow and Lung Deposition as Key Decision Factors in COPD Inhaled Therapy

• Published in: International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Vol. 17; pp. 1005 - 1015
• Main Authors: González-Torralba, Fernando, Baloira, Adolfo, Abad, Araceli, Fuster, Antonia, García-Rivero, Juan Luis, García-Sidro, Patricia, Márquez-Martín, Eduardo, Palop, Marta, Soler, Néstor, Velasco, José Luis
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New Zealand Dove Medical Press Limited 2022; Dove Medical Press Ltd; Dove; Dove Medical Press
• Subjects: Administration, Inhalation; Bronchodilator Agents; Care and treatment; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Clinical medicine; Consensus; Data analysis; Dry Powder Inhalers; Equipment Design; exacerbations; Humans; inhaled therapy device; Inhalers; Likert scale; Lung; Lung diseases, Obstructive; Metered Dose Inhalers; Nebulizers and Vaporizers; Original Research; Patient compliance; Patients; pressurized metered-dose inhalers; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - diagnosis; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - drug therapy; Questionnaires; Respiratory agents; soft mist inhaler; Spain; pressurized metered-dose inhalers; soft mist inhaler; dry powder inhalers; exacerbations; inhaled therapy device
• ISSN: 1178-2005; 1176-9106; 1178-2005
• DOI: 10.2147/COPD.S360938

The pharmacological treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is largely based on inhaled bronchodilators. Inspiratory flow and lung deposition are key parameters to be considered in inhaled therapy; however, the relationship between these two parameters, the patient specificities, and the suitability of the inhaler type for COPD management has not been fully addressed. The present study follows a Delphi Panel methodology to find expert consensus on the role of inspiratory flow and lung deposition as key decision factors in COPD inhaled therapy.
A two-round Delphi Panel, consisting of 38 statements (items) and completed by 57 Spanish pulmonologists, was carried out to measure the experts' consensus degree with each item.
A high degree of consensus was reached on most of the items consulted, among these inspiratory flow or inspiratory capacity should be periodically considered when choosing an inhalation device and to ensure the suitability of the inhaler used; the outflow velocity and particle size of the different devices should be considered to ensure adequate lung deposition; an active device (pressurized metered-dose inhalers (pMDI) or soft mist inhalers (SMI)) should be used in patients with low inspiratory flow to achieve adequate lung deposition; and, the use of dry powder inhalers (DPI) should be re-evaluated in patients with severe obstruction and severe exacerbations.
This study shows the relevance of inspiratory flow and the degree of particle deposition in the lung in the choice of an inhalation device for COPD management, as well as the convenience of an SMI type device in cases of low inspiratory flow. Moreover, it highlights the scarcity of information on the specific features of inhalation devices in COPD guidelines.