A Review on the Medication Adherence in Obstructive Airway Disease Patients: A Focus on Inhaler Use

Obstructive Airway Disorders, which are a group of respiratory conditions that involve blockage or narrowing of the airways, leading to difficulty in breathing. These disorders are characterized by reductions in airflow that occur at any level of the bronchial tree and may be due to the intrinsic narrowing or extrinsic compression of the airway. Some common Obstructive Airway Disorders (OADs) include Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (Bronchitis, Emphysema), Asthma, Bronchiectasis, Cystic fibrosis. The global prevalence of COPD is estimated to be around 10-15% of the adult population. In India it’s about 4.2%. Asthma affects around 3-4% of the global population and 12.9% in India. Treatment options typically includes beta agonists (short acting & long acting), corticosteroids, leukotriene receptor antagonists, muscarinic antagonists (SAMAs & LAMAs), with inhaler therapy stands as a primary approach in the management of OAD. Nevertheless, poor patient adherence poses a major barrier or challenge to achieving optimal treatment outcomes. This review examines the multifaceted factors influencing patient adherence to inhaler therapy in OAD management, includings the impact of patient education, device usability, communication of health care provider, socioeconomic status and cultural believes on adherence levels. Additionally, various levels of interventions like treatment level, clinician level and patient level are evaluated for their efficacy in enhancing adherence. Understanding these factors are crucial for optimizing asthma outcomes.