Trudell Medical International
November 16, 2011
World COPD Day
According to the World Health Organization, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide and its prevalence is increasing. It is estimated that one in 10 adults over the age of 40 may have COPD.1
COPD is not a reversible condition, however, treatment can slow its progression. Inhaled long-acting bronchodilator medications are central to the symptomatic management of the disease.
There is a large choice of inhaler devices available for COPD patients. When prescribing a device it is important to prescribe a device that is easy to use.
According to the NICE COPD Guidelines, “a pressurized Metered Dose Inhaler (pMDI) alone is rarely suitable for use with the elderly”.2 The most common problems that the elderly have with pMDI technique are failure to coordinate actuation with inspiration and failure to hold their breath after inspiration. Both of these problems can be alleviated with the use of a holding chamber.3
AeroChamber Plus* Flow-Vu* Chamber with large mask is easy to use; patients simply need to breathe normally through the chamber while holding the mask to their face. The ability to breathe normally is especially important when patients are breathless and may not be able to generate the inspiratory flow rates required to use other devices like DPIs or breath actuated pMDIs.
Please join Trudell Medical International in recognizing World COPD Day.
1 Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease. The Burden of COPD. www.goldcopd.com 2 National Institute of Clinical Excellence. COPD Guidelines 3 Barbee RA, Balancing the therapeutic needs of elderly asthmatics. J Respir Dis 1995; 16(2): 114-122
COPD is not a reversible condition, however, treatment can slow its progression. Inhaled long-acting bronchodilator medications are central to the symptomatic management of the disease.
There is a large choice of inhaler devices available for COPD patients. When prescribing a device it is important to prescribe a device that is easy to use.
According to the NICE COPD Guidelines, “a pressurized Metered Dose Inhaler (pMDI) alone is rarely suitable for use with the elderly”.2 The most common problems that the elderly have with pMDI technique are failure to coordinate actuation with inspiration and failure to hold their breath after inspiration. Both of these problems can be alleviated with the use of a holding chamber.3
AeroChamber Plus* Flow-Vu* Chamber with large mask is easy to use; patients simply need to breathe normally through the chamber while holding the mask to their face. The ability to breathe normally is especially important when patients are breathless and may not be able to generate the inspiratory flow rates required to use other devices like DPIs or breath actuated pMDIs.
Please join Trudell Medical International in recognizing World COPD Day.
1 Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease. The Burden of COPD. www.goldcopd.com 2 National Institute of Clinical Excellence. COPD Guidelines 3 Barbee RA, Balancing the therapeutic needs of elderly asthmatics. J Respir Dis 1995; 16(2): 114-122