The impact of expired and empty quick-relief asthma inhalers: The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America's Asthma Inhaler Design Survey.
BACKGROUND
Despite the available treatments, asthma remains a serious illness, with a considerable socioeconomic burden associated with a high number of unscheduled visits to the emergency department (ED). Poor adherence and inadequate inhaler technique are contributing factors to poor asthma management and control.


OBJECTIVE
The Asthma Inhaler Design Survey assessed the behaviors, attitudes, needs, and preferences of patients with asthma and their caregivers with regard to quick-relief inhaler usage and device design.


METHODS
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America invited 19,157 adult patients and parents of children with asthma to take part in an online survey that focused on previous asthma diagnosis, symptom severity, and quick-relief and controller medication use. Opinions were also collected.


RESULTS
Data from 590 respondents (366 adults; 224 children) were included in the final analysis. Relief inhalers were needed and found to be past the expiration date by 284 of 561 (50.6%) and relief inhalers were found to be empty by 270 of 560 (48.2%). Of the empty inhaler group, 28 of 270 (10.4%) had to visit the ED for treatment, 18 of 270 (6.7%) missed work or school for an unscheduled physician office visit, and 54 of 270 (20%) went without treatment. Although 78.5% indicated that they had at least two quick-relief inhalers nearby, these were not always easily accessible. Few respondents (194/578 [33.6%]) indicated that they and/or their child were very confident that they were using their inhaler properly, even though the majority had received some instruction. When asked what they would do to improve satisfaction with their quick-relief inhalers, 173 of 558 (31%) responded that they would add a dose counter.


CONCLUSIONS
Unnecessary health care utilization and avoidable loss of time at work or school were associated with the lack of full availability of properly functioning quick-relief inhalers when needed. Adding a dose counter was the most frequently cited response for improving satisfaction with quick-relief inhalers. Confidence about proper inhaler use was low, despite previous instruction.
William Storms Allergy Clinic, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA.
William W
WW
Storms
Mike
M
Tringale
Thomas J
TJ
Ferro
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents