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Global Access and Patient Safety during the Transition to Environmentally Friendly Inhalers

Salvi S.

RDD Asia 2024. Volume 1, 2024: 81-82.

Abstract:

India has an estimated 55.3 million chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) cases, the largest in the world, and 37.8 million asthma cases accounting for 11.1% of the global asthma burden but over 42% of all global asthma deaths [1]. While the best way to remedy this situation is to improve air quality, in the short term these chronic respiratory diseases must be largely managed using inhaled medications. Paradoxically, currently available pressurized metered dose inhalers (pMDIs) release greenhouse gases known to degrade air quality, which has led to Europe and the United States pushing to replace hydrofluoroalkane134a and hydrofluoroalkane227ea with more environmentally benign propellants, and promotion of propellant-free inhalation platforms (predominantly dry powder inhalers and soft mist inhalers). While this is a worthy aspiration, it places the accessibility of life saving pMDIs in jeopardy for millions of patients living in low and middle income countries (LMICs) [2].

This presentation will explore the tension between choosing the optimal treatment strategy and its related inhalation platforms, with the need to minimize environmental impacts. The health consequences of regulatory strategies on patients in LMICs who already suffer most from the consequences of climate change will be reviewed.