Pressurised metered dose inhalers versus all other hand-held inhaler devices to deliver beta-2 agonist bronchodilators for non-acute asthma

Ram FSF, Brocklebank DDM, White J, Wright JJ, Jones P

Published Online:

October 7, 2009

This review determined to look at whether fast acting relievers performed better when they were delivered via different inhalers in people with asthma. The authors did not find differences between the devices in lung function measurements that exceeded what would be expected with the play of chance. HFA-metered dose inhalers reduced the requirement for oral steroids. However, the studies reported data in ways that prevented formal statistical combination. More research is required to establish more reliably whether the devices commonly used to deliver reliever medication provide similar efficacy and safety.

Abstract (click to read)

Background:

A number of different inhaler devices are available to deliver beta2-agonist bronchodilators in asthma. These include hydrofluoroalkane (HFA) or chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)-free propelled pressurised metered dose inhalers (pMDIs) and dry powder devices.

Objectives:

To determine the clinical effectiveness of pMDI compared with any other available handheld inhaler device for the delivery of short-acting beta-2 agonist bronchodilators in non-acute asthma in children and adults.

Search strategy:

The Cochrane Collaboration Clinical Trials register was searched for studies as well as separate additional searches carried out on MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and also on the Current Contents Index as well as the Science Citation Index. In addition, 17 individual online respiratory journals and 12 electronically available clinical trial databases were also searched. The UK pharmaceutical companies who manufacture inhaled asthma medication were contacted in order to obtain details of any published or unpublished studies.

Selection criteria:

The full texts of all potentially relevant articles were reviewed independently by two reviewers.

Data collection and analysis:

Fixed and random effect models were used. Dichotomous outcomes were assessed using Odds Ratios or Relative Risks (RR) with 95% Confidence Intervals (95% CI).

Main results:

Eighty-four randomised controlled trials were included in this review, but few could be combined to assess a specific outcome for a given delivery device comparison. Only two studies required demonstration of adequate pMDI technique as an entry requirement. There were no difference between a standard CFC containing pMDI and any other device for most outcomes. Regular use of HFA-pMDI containing salbutamol reduced the requirement for short courses of oral corticosteroids (3 trials, 519 patients: RR 0.67; 95% CI 0.49, 0.91); however the total number of exacerbations were unchanged (3 trials, 1271 patients: RR 1.0; 95% CI 0.75, 1.33).

Authors' conclusions:

In patients with stable asthma, short-acting beta-2 bronchodilators in standard CFC-pMDI's are as effective as any other devices. The effect of HFA-pMDI on requirement for oral corticosteroid courses to treat acute exacerbations should be confirmed. Effectiveness studies that use an intention-to-treat analysis are required.

This record should be cited as:

Ram FSF, Brocklebank DDM, White J, Wright JJ, Jones P. Pressurised metered dose inhalers versus all other hand-held inhaler devices to deliver beta-2 agonist bronchodilators for non-acute asthma. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2002, Issue 2. Art. No.: CD002158. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD002158

Assessed as up to date:

November 29, 2001

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Primary Review Group:

Airways Group

Asthma topics:

Treating with Medications > Chronic Asthma > Beta-agonists, short-acting

Treating with Medications > Chronic Asthma > Inhaler devices and delivery of therapy

Treating with Medications > Using Devices

Health topics:

Lungs & airways > Asthma (chronic) > Bronchodilators