Benefits of Nebulization

How patient ability and device type can impact treatment decisions9,13

Choosing the appropriate therapy

When treating patients with COPD, assessing potential barriers to proper device usage is important. The following factors should be considered when selecting the appropriate treatment.9,13

Patient Limitations

Could certain comorbidities and conditions limit your patient's ability to perform the required inspiratory maneuver and/or handle the device correctly?

Continuity of Device for Maintenance

Could maintaining device continuity across the maintenance treatment regimen help ensure optimal delivery and patient adherence?

Comorbidities that may affect device technique9

  • Depression/anxiety
  • Poor hearing/eyesight
  • Tremor
  • Difficulty with fine-motor activities
  • Memory problems
  • Neuromuscular diseases:
    • Rheumatoid arthritis
    • Bone degeneration
    • Weakness in skeletal muscles

~80%

of patients report at least one condition that may potentially impede optimal device technique8*

Selected responses from an ACCP-developed, quantitative, web-based, descriptive, cross-sectional survey of 499 patients (mostly former smokers, 55-74 years old) with self-identified COPD in the US.8

44%

of COPD patients self-reported having arthritis (N=499)8

Arthritis or other manual dexterity issues may prevent patients from using inhaler devices properly.8*

~33%

of COPD patients have difficulties with cognitive functioning (N=301)5-7†

Borderline or impaired cognitive functioning can be a common barrier to correct inhaler device administration.5,8*

~19%

of patients 60+ years with advanced COPD have impaired inspiratory effort (N=213)12‡

Inspiratory flow is one of many factors to consider when choosing a delivery device.14*

*The relationship between patient conditions, device type, and medication efficacy has not been established.

†On tests measuring psychomotor speed and executive control functioning.

‡Defined as lower than 60 L/min.

Continuity of device type can play a role in patient outcomes13

2025 GOLD Report recommendations2

The number of different device types should be minimized for each patient

Single inhaler therapy may be more convenient and effective than multiple inhalers

Single inhalers improve adherence to treatment

Optimizing patient
conversations

A study of more than 16,000 patients with COPD on more than 1 inhaled medication found that patients who used devices with similar inhalation techniques had better outcomes than those who were prescribed devices requiring different techniques.13

Patients in the similar-devices cohort:

  • Had a lower rate of exacerbations compared with those in the mixed-devices cohort
    (adjusted incidence rate ratio 0.82, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.80-0.84)
  • Were less likely to be in a higher-dose SABA group
    (adjusted proportional odds ratio 0.54, 95% CI 0.51-0.57)

Study sample contained 8,225 patients in each cohort (mean age 67 [SD, 10], 57% males, 37% current smokers).

According to the GOLD Report, the choice of delivery device should be individually tailored and will depend on access, cost, prescriber and, most importantly, the patient's ability and preference.2

Nebulizers are commonly used and widely covered4,15

Nebulizer Benefits:

45%

of patients with COPD in the US have a nebulizer at home15§

100%

Most nebulizers are 100% covered as durable medical equipment (DME) through Medicare Part B4

§Data referenced from a 2008 study.

Patients breathe naturally; no extra effort needed8,15,16

No hand-breath coordination needed8,17

Compact, portable, and low-cost options available18,19

EXPLORE ADDITIONAL CONTENT

Optimizing Patient Conversations

Find out how to get the most out of conversations with your patients.

Learn More

Exploring Patient Types

Review patient types to help determine if your patients may benefit from YUPELRI.1

Learn More

COPD=chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; GOLD=Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease; ACCP=American College of Chest Physicians.