Use of a Digital Inhaler to Assess COPD Disease Variability and Identify Impending Acute COPD Exacerbations: A Pilot Study
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Rationale: Studies have shown that digital inhalers, using remote monitoring data, can improve medication adherence and clinical outcomes, such as prediction of impending asthma exacerbations. There is limited research on the clinical utility of physiologic inhalation parameters and inhaler medication use data captured by a digital inhaler to identify impending acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPDs). Objectives: The objective was to determine variation in digital inhaler-measured physiologic and inhaler use metrics in ambulatory chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients in advance of an AECOPD. Methods: This phase 4, open-label, 3-month pilot study was conducted at 2 U.S. centers. Participants used the ProAir Digihaler for primary rescue medication during the study. Participants were contacted monthly for COPD disease assessments. Inhaler metric variations leading up to an AECOPD were evaluated. Results: =0.2). Conclusion: Physiologic data captured by a digital inhaler may serve as a valuable remote patient monitoring tool to help support the identification of early or impending AECOPDs among ambulatory COPD patients and monitor COPD disease variability.
Authors: M. Bradley Drummond, Caleb C. Hemphill, Tanisha Hill, Amanda Boe, Daisy Yu, Jill A. Ohar
Language: English
Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4410810912