Respimat Inhaler Proves Equally as Effective as Others in the Management of COPD

Despite its innovative Soft Mist™ technology, the Respimat inhaler does not provide any additional clinical benefit than those provided by other inhaler devices in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to a recent study published in the International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Researchers from Brazil, New Zealand and the United Kingdom conducted the study to determine the effectiveness of the Respimat inhaler compared to other handheld inhaler devices. They systematically reviewed high-quality, randomized controlled clinical trials that compared the Respimat inhaler to other devices. Studies were searched for using various electronic databases, while manufacturers of inhaled COPD medication were also contacted for potential trials.

Seven studies were discovered, with a total of 3,813 patients in the review. Of the seven, three studies compared the Respimat inhaler to the Handihaler®, in which there were no significant changes in management reported between the two inhalers, including risk of exacerbations. Three studies also compared the Respimat inhaler to a chlorofluorocarbon metered-dose inhaler (CFC-MDI), in which exacerbations also did not demonstrate any significant changes.

Further, five trials with 2,136 patients demonstrated that the Respimat inhaler did not decrease the risk of exacerbations or nasopharyngitis when compared with all other handled inhaler devices. As a result, researchers concluded that the Respimat inhaler does not provide any additional clinical benefit than other inhaler devices. Additionally, while recent reports have surfaced concerns of increased mortality with use of the Respimat inhaler, none of the trials reviewed reported mortality as an outcome.

Researchers noted that the concern with increased mortality with use of the Respimat inhaler should be investigated further.

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