Evaluation of the efficacy of various dry powder inhalation devices in the treatment of bronchial asthma patients

Introduction: In the current study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy in terms of clinical effectiveness and patients' acceptability regarding the use of dry powder inhaler devices in asthmatic patients. Materials and Methods: Patients with mild-to-moderate asthma were recruited from Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Memorial Medical College, Kanpur, India. A total number of patients were divided into three groups and were given different dry powder inhalation devices, randomly Group one-Rotahaler; Group Two-Diskhaler; and Group Three-Transhaler. Spirometry was performed, and the inhalation technique was checked in each follow-up visit. Results: Patients with asthma in all three studied groups improved from the prescribed inhaled steroids, irrespective of the inhalational device. Min Max % as a marker for peak expiratory flow rate variability, improved in all three groups without any significant difference. Predicted forced expiratory volume in the first second percent considered as a marker of asthma severity improved significantly in all patients, but without any significant difference between groups. Conclusion: We conclude that these inhalers, particularly in mild-to-moderate asthma, have comparable efficacy; however, we carried out intensive monitoring and teaching of inhalational technique, which could be the reason behind insignificant difference.