Prospective evaluation for inhalation devices in Greek patients with COPD and asthma: The PAIR study.

  • Karampitsakos T, Hillas G, Zervas E, Bakakos P, Stratakos G, Dimakou K, Manali E, Bouros D, Papiris S, Tzouvelekis A; PAIR study investigators.
  • Adamidis V, Adamou H, Agelidis X, Albantakis K, Anaplioti A, Babalis C, Balasoulis G, Christou K, Filippidou C, Fothiantakis E, Gavriilidou A, Goulia H, Houliara K, Kainis E, Kakavelas P, Kalampoka D, Kalfountzos G, Kammenidis S, Karkanis K, Karyanou E, Katertzi M, Kopanakis A, Kotantoula G, Liapikou A, Manali E, Manolakoglou N, Marosis K, Michailidou D, Oikonomides P, Palamidas A, Papandreou A, Pataka A, Pitenis A, Porpodis K, Stratis A, Terovitou C, Trikrika E, Tsiaga P, Tsiounta T, Vlachou A, Zois D.
  • 1. 5th Pulmonary Department, "Sotiria" Chest Diseases Hospital, Athens, Greece; 1st Academic Department of Pneumonology, Hospital for Thoracic Diseases, "Sotiria", Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece. 2. 5th Pulmonary Department, "Sotiria" Chest Diseases Hospital, Athens, Greece. 3. 7th Pulmonary Department, "Sotiria" Chest Diseases Hospital, Athens, Greece. 4. 1st Academic Department of Pneumonology, Hospital for Thoracic Diseases, "Sotiria", Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece. 5. 2nd Pulmonary Medicine Department, General University Hospital "Attikon", Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece. 6. 1st Academic Department of Pneumonology, Hospital for Thoracic Diseases, "Sotiria", Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece. Electronic address: atzouvelekis@yahoo.gr.

INTRODUCTION:

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma remain a major health burden. Adherence to inhaled therapy is critical in order to optimize treatment effectiveness. Properly designed questionnaires can assess patients’ satisfaction with their inhaler devices.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

A total of 766 patients with COPD, asthma or Asthma-COPD Overlap (ACO) were initially enrolled. During their first visit, patients were classified into three groups (Diskus™, Elpenhaler®, Turbuhaler®). Patients completed the FSI-10 questionnaire on Day 0 and Day 60. Test-retest reliability was evaluated.

RESULTS:

A total of 705 patients completed the study. FSI-10 questionnaire had good test-retest reliability (Total Intraclass Correlation Coefficient: 0.86). All dry powder inhaler (DPIs) yielded satisfactory results. Median score of FSI-10 questionnaire in first visit (FSI-10-I) was significantly higher for patients receiving Elpenhaler® (45, 95% CI: 44 to 46) than patients receiving Diskus™ (42, 95% CI: 41 to 43) and Turbuhaler® (42, 95% CI: 41 to 43) (p < 0.001). Accordingly, median score of FSI-10 questionnaire in the final visit (FSI-10-II) was significantly higher for patients receiving Elpenhaler® (46, 95% CI: 45 to 47) than patients receiving Diskus™ (42, 95% CI: 41 to 43) and Turbuhaler® (43, 95% CI: 42 to 44) (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION:

FSI-10 questionnaire had good test-retest reliability and thus can be used in the follow-up of patients with COPD, asthma and ACO. All DPIs were highly acceptable among all study groups. Elpenhaler® achieved significantly higher ratings than Diskus™ and Turbuhaler® in FSI-10 score and presented higher preference among patients with obstructive lung diseases.

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