Elsevier

Respiratory Medicine

Volume 95, Issue 12, December 2001, Pages 965-968
Respiratory Medicine

Regular Article
Measurement of peak inhalation rates with an In-Check Meter®to identify an elderly patient's ability to use a Turbuhaler®

https://doi.org/10.1053/rmed.2001.1190Get rights and content
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Abstract

Dry powder inhalers are designed with resistance to airflow so that a respirable cloud of particles is generated during inhalation. Some of these devices require a certain inhalation rate to produce a consistent dose of respirable particles. The aim of the study was to determine the inhalation rate of elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) when they inhale through a Turbuhaler®and assess the potential of the In-Check Meter®to identify inhalation rates. Their peak inhalation rate using a normal inhalation, pre- and post-counselling, was measured using a Turbuhaler Trainer®and an In-Check Meter®. Spirometry was also measured. Seventy-four COPD patients with a mean (SD) age of 79·7 (8·4) years and forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1) 41·9 (12·8)% predicted. Pre-counselling 14 obtained a rate of <30 l min−1with the Turbuhaler Trainer, 31 from 30 to 40 min−1, 23 between 40–60 l min−1and 6 >60 l min−1. The median (range) peak inhalation rates with the In-Check Meter®were 50 (50–70), 70 (50–130), 100 (60–200) and 225 (200–250) l min−1. Post-counselling 7, 16, 41 and 10 achieved the respective peak inhalation rates using the Turbuhaler Trainer®Similarly, the In-Check inhalation rates were 50 (50–60), 70 (50–130), 90 (60–200) and 250 (200–270) l min−1. The results highlight the potential of the In-Check Meter®to identify patients' inhalation rates through dry powder inhalers.

Keywords

inhalation rate
dry powder inhaler
In-Check Meter®.

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Correspondence should be addressed to: Prof. H. Chrystyn, Pharmacy Practice, The School of Pharmacy, University of Bradford, Bradford BD 7 IDP, U.K. Fax: +44(0)1274-236490; E-mail: [email protected]