Ensuring continued access to essential inhaled respiratory medications: a call to action from the Inhaled Respiratory medicine Innovation and environmental Sustainability (IRIS) group

Source: PubMed Central Open Access, NCBI / U.S. National Library of Medicine

Extract Globally, more than 650 million children and adults live with COPD or asthma, 48% of whom depend upon pressurised metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs) to deliver their inhaled medication [1, 2]. Inhaler choice is key to the effective management of these chronic respiratory diseases. Patient capability, engagement and satisfaction are important determinants when considering device selection and adherence [3]. It is, therefore, important to prescribe the “right” device to the appropriate patient. pMDIs deliver essential medications, as defined by the World Health Organization, and often are the only choice for some of the most vulnerable populations, including children <10 years old, those with more severe lung disease or suffering from acute attacks of breathlessness, and people who live in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) [4]. extract abstract-1 Shareable abstract The supply of pMDIs for our patients is about to be switched off. IRIS calls for greener next generation propellants (HFA-152a and HFO-1234ze) used in pMDIs to be excluded from the EU F-gas regulation and the proposed PFAS restriction. https://bit.ly/3OxQ2ry short abstract-2