NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Two-thirds of asthma patients believe that their pressurized metered dose inhaler (MDI) contains lifesaving medication until absolutely no spray comes out. But this belief has dire consequences for asthma patients both young and old according to a national survey conducted by Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics (AANMA), a leading patient education and advocacy organization based in Fairfax, VA.
Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the airways that claims more than 5,000 lives each year. MDI devices deliver aerosolized lifesaving and preventive medications to the airways. Bronchodilators treat life-threatening symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Inhaled corticosteroids prevent airway inflammation. However, MDIs are only effective if they contain medications.
“MDI package inserts caution patients to discard the device after using the labeled number of doses even though contents remain in the canister,” according to Bradley Chipps, M.D., FCCP, Medical Director, Capital Allergy & Respiratory Disease Center, Sacramento, CA, who coauthored the study. “After that point, the quality of each puff cannot be assured, a fact few patients understand.”
“The consequences can be frightening, misleading or even deadly in time of need,” says Nancy Sander, AANMA president and co-author of the study presented at the American College of Allergy Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) annual conference in New Orleans. “Most respondents said they’d never been informed to keep track of doses, but the next question is how to do it. Like driving a car with no gas gauge, MDI users have no indicator that they are running on empty.”
“This sort of important survey information points out how very helpful it would be for manufacturers to routinely incorporate dose counters into their MDIs,” said Robert J. Meyer, M.D., Director, Office of Drug Evaluation II, US Food and Drug Administration. “I think this work gives added weight to the guidance FDA has recently provided, encouraging manufacturers to make dose counters or indicators a part of their new MDI development plans,” he added.
The AANMA survey was conducted via telephone interview with a random sample of 500 families with asthma who use an MDI. Highlights:
-- 32 percent use a bronchodilator at least once daily, an indication that symptoms are poorly controlled. -- 25 percent of respondents had found their MDI completely empty when trying to use it to relieve symptoms. Of those, 8 percent called 911 for help. -- Of those who said they knew where to find the number of doses contained in a newly purchased MDI, just 24 percent could state the number of doses remaining.
The study was conducted by Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics, a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to eliminate death and suffering due to asthma, allergies and related conditions. The study was funded through an educational grant provided by Sepracor.
For more information: AANMA 800.878.4403 http://www.breatherville.org/ Contact: Ellen Lathem 703.641.9595 x 103 or Sandra Fusco-Walker 201.400.8163
Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics
CONTACT: Ellen Lathem, +1-703-641-9595, ext. 103, or SandraFusco-Walker, +1-201-400-8163, both for Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers ofAsthmatics
Web site: http://www.breatherville.org/