Breathing parameters of COPD patients through two dry powder inhalers

The objective of this study was to find correlations between inhalation parameters of COPD patients through two DPI devices and their native spirometric data, gender, age and disease severity, and to establish relationships between peak inspiratory flows (PIFdev) through NEXThaler® and Ellipta® inhalers and their statistical determinants. Inhalation parameters of 113 COPD patients were measured by normal spirometry and while inhaling through the two DPIs. The average value of peak inspiratory flow was 68.4 L/min through NEXThaler® and 78.0 L/min through Ellipta®. PIFdev values were significantly higher for males than for females, but differences upon age, BMI and disease severity group were not significant. PIFdev values through both inhalers correlated best with their native spirometric counterparts (PIF) and linear relationships between them were revealed, as demonstrated in Figure 1. Current results may be used in the future to predict the success of inhalation of COPD patients through DPI devices, which may help in the inhaler choice. By choosing the appropriate device-drug pair for each patient the dose deposited in the lungs can be increased and the efficiency of the therapy improved. <fig><object-id>erj;64/suppl_68/PA2111/F1</object-id><object-id>F1</object-id><object-id>F1</object-id><graphic></graphic></fig> <bold>Figure1.</bold> Peak inspiratory flow (PIFdev) through NEXThaler® (left panel) and Ellipta® (right panel) DPI devices as a function of native peak inspiratory flow. Each symbol represents one patient.