Evaluation of patient-reported outcomes and quality of life with the I-neb AAD system in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
BACKGROUND
The I-neb Adaptive Aerosol Delivery (AAD) System is a novel portable mesh nebulizer that provides patient feedback regarding adherence to prescribed treatment and compliance with the correct use of the device.


METHODS
This multicenter study was composed of 98 patients aged 53-80 years with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The primary variables were ease of use and satisfaction, which were assessed after 3 months of use of the I-neb AAD System (assessed at visit 2) and after 3 months of use of the patient's previous nebulizer system (assessed at visit 1) using matched questions from pre- and poststudy questionnaires. Quality of life was also assessed at visits 1 and 2 using the validated Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire (CRQ), which consists of dyspnea, emotional function, fatigue, and mastery domains. Differences in the distribution of responses between the pre- and poststudy ease of use and satisfaction questions were analyzed using the Marginal Homogeneity test. Differences in mean CRQ scores between the pre- and poststudy assessments were analyzed using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test.


RESULTS
Patient responses on the ease of use and satisfaction questions significantly (p < or = 0.001) favored the I-neb AAD System compared with the patient's previous nebulizer system. In addition, significant (p < or = 0.015) improvements in the CRQ dimensions of dyspnea and fatigue were reported with the I-neb AAD System compared with the patients' previous nebulizer systems.


CONCLUSIONS
The results from this study demonstrated that patients were more satisfied with the I-neb AAD System and found it easier to use than their previous nebulizer systems. In addition, the I-neb AAD System significantly improved dyspnea and fatigue compared with the patients' previous nebulizer systems, which may reflect improved adherence or more correct use of the nebulizer system with the I-neb AAD System.
Goodman
Nicola
N
Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, United Kingdom.
Morgan
Mike
M
Nikander
Kurt
K
Hinch
Sarah
S
Coughlin
Steven
S
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000336:Aerosols; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011788:Quality of Life; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000336:Aerosols; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids