The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has released a patient decision aid on the use of inhalers for asthma.
Inhaler
This patient decision aid is designed to enable users alongside healthcare professionals to identify the best inhaler for them in order to manage their symptoms and meet their specific needs.
This guidance begins by describing the different types of inhalers; Breath-Actuated metered dose Inhalers (BAIs), Dry Powder Inhalers (DPIs), pressurised Metered Dose Inhalers (pMDIs), pMDI plus spacers and Soft Mist Inhalers (SMIs).
Additionally, it includes information on the recycling of inhalers and states that all inhalers can be recycled within local pharmacies in an environmentally safe way. The exception to this is spacers which cannot currently be recycled.
With regards to the carbon footprint of inhalers, metered dose inhalers have estimated carbon footprints of 500g carbon dioxide equivalents per dose, compared to 20g in DPIs.
As pMDIs contain propellants that are greenhouse gases they can contribute towards global warming. NICE states that whilst the hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) contained in MDIs help to propel the dose into the patient’s respiratory system, the HFCs are powerful greenhouse gases and many people would be able to achieve the same benefit from DPIs, which have a lower carbon dioxide equivalent per dose.
Talking about the patient decision aid, Professor Gillian Leng, deputy chief executive of NICE, said: “This aid will help people make shared decisions on which inhaler is right for them, and help them use that inhaler effectively. This can help them to control their asthma, rather than have their asthma control them.
“People who need to use metered dose inhalers should absolutely continue to do so – but if you have the choice of a green option, do think about the environment. Cutting carbon emissions is good news for everyone, especially those with respiratory conditions.”
According to Asthma UK, 5.4 million people in the UK are currently receiving treatment for asthma, with the UK being one of the most prevalent places within Europe for asthmatics. The National Health Service (NHS) currently spends around one billion pounds a year treating and caring for people with asthma, therefore NICE guidance on this topic is extremely necessary and prominent.