Switching from a pressurized metered dose inhaler (pMDI)-based to a dry powder inhaler (DPI)- based maintenance therapy reduces environmental impacts and does not worsen asthma control, according to a study published in Thorax. Ashley Woodcock, MD, and colleagues performed a post-hoc analysis on data for a subset of patients from the Salford Lung Study in Asthma to compare the effects of switching from a pMDIbased to a DPI-based maintenance therapy on asthma control and greenhouse gas emissions. The analysis included 1,081 patients who switched from pMDI to DPI and 1,155 who continued their usual care (UC). Annual greenhouse gas emissions (carbon dioxide equivalents kg per patient) for maintenance plus rescue therapy was significantly lower with fluticasone furoate/ vilanterol (FF/VI) DPI treatment (the switch group) versus UC (least squares geometric mean, 108 kg vs 240 kg). The FF/VI DPI treatment group also had consistently superior asthma control throughout 12 months.
