TY - JOUR T1 - Adherence of stable COPD patients to inhaled pharmacotherapy JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 38 IS - Suppl 55 SP - p244 AU - Silvia Dumitru AU - Konstantinos Velentzas AU - Elpida Theodorakopoulou AU - Maria Harikiopoulou AU - Martha Andritsou AU - Alexia Chronaiou AU - Zafeiris Sardelis AU - Elias Kainis AU - Panagiotis Demertzis AU - Epaminondas Kosmas Y1 - 2011/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p244.abstract N2 - Since compliance to inhaled medications is related to a decreased risk of hospitalizations and death in COPD, we aimed to investigate the compliance of COPD patients to inhaled pharmacotherapy. We studied 208 COPD patients [age 63±8 years; 77 in stage II (37%); 112 in stage III (54%); and 19 in stage IV (9%)]. Non-compliance was defined as the incorrect use of the inhaler device, as a sporadic or prn use due to perception of no effect or due to wrong information, when patient or his caregiver declares non-compliance, and when medication is not prescribed regularly. Results are reported for Tiotropium (T), fixed combinations of either Salmeterol/Fluticasone (S/F) or Formoterol/Budesonide (F/B), and Salmeterol (S) or Formoterol (F) as single agents. Overall compliance to the above inhaled agents was 92%, 84%, 81%, 75% and 68% respectively. According to GOLD staging, compliance to T was 87% (st.II)-94% (st.III)-95% (st.IV), to S/F 78% (II)-84% (III)- 92% (IV), to F/B 78% (II)-79% (III)-100% (IV), to S 67% (II)-100% (III) and to F 61% (II)-86% (III). Major reasons for non-compliance to S/F was the incorrect technique to inhale from the Diskus (78%), to F/B the preception of no effect when inhaling from the Turbohaler (50%), while reasons for non-compliance to T were the incorrect technique of using Handihaler (36%), no purchase or prescription renewal (36%) and sporadic use (28%). We conclude that compliance rates were higher for Tiotropium and the fixed combination of Salmeterol/Fluticasone. There was an increasing compliance in relation to COPD severity, while the detected reasons of poor compliance should be tackled through a more effective contact between COPD patients and their physicians. ER -