Background: Inhaler technique errors are common in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) treatment, potentially leading to poor disease management. Our pooled analysis approach assessed correct use and ease-of-use of a placebo ELLIPTA dry-powder inhaler (DPI) in patients with COPD.
Methods: Adults with COPD from open-label/non-blinded studies evaluating a placebo ELLIPTA DPI and reporting outcomes of correct use (based on the ELLIPTA DPI patient information leaflet [PIL]) and/or ease-of-use were included. Correct use and ease-of use at study end were primary and secondary endpoints, respectively. Data from patients in the placebo ELLIPTA DPI arm of each study were pooled, and the intent-to-treat (ITT) population was used for all analyses.
Results: Four placebo ELLIPTA DPI studies, reporting correct use (n = 4) and ease-of-use (n = 2), were included in the analysis. The ITT population comprised 1232 patients (mean age 66.2 years). For the primary endpoint, 80.1% (n = 975/1217) of patients demonstrated correct use at study end (95% confidence interval [CI]: 77.8%-82.3%). For the secondary endpoint, 95.7% (n = 797/833) of patients rated placebo ELLIPTA DPI use "easy"/"very easy" at study end (95% CI: 94.1%-97.0%). Correct use and "easy"/"very easy" user ratings remained high across younger (40-64 years) and older (≥65 years) age groups.
Conclusions: Across age groups, most patients used the placebo ELLIPTA DPI correctly and rated it "easy"/"very easy" to use. Consistent with the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease 2021 report, our findings emphasize that proper training and clear instructions on PILs are important for optimal inhaler use.