The effective self-management of obstructive lung disease is dependent upon the patient achieving good inhaler technique. However, many current inhalers are complicated to use, which may lead to handling difficulties. These difficulties can cause clinically relevant errors, whereby pharmacotherapy fails to achieve adequate lung deposition and therapeutic effect. In this report, the potential of novel inhaler devices to overcome unmet needs in the management of obstructive lung disease is considered by a panel of Nordic experts. The panel concludes that innovative inhalers can contribute to good disease management and better use of healthcare resources.
Keywords: COPD; access; asthma; choice; cost; dry powder inhaler; economic; innovation; medication errors; metered dose inhaler; obstructive lung disease; outcome; patient compliance; patient preference; price; reimbursement; substitution.