Differences in Adherence and Non-Adherence Behaviour Patterns to Inhaler Devices Between COPD and Asthma Patients

Area of Science:

• Respiratory Medicine
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Adherence to inhaled therapies is crucial for managing chronic respiratory diseases like asthma and COPD.
• Differences in disease characteristics may influence patient behavior regarding medication adherence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare adherence and non-adherence patterns to inhaled therapy between asthma and COPD patients.
• To identify factors associated with non-adherence in these patient groups.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional multicentre study involving 910 patients (55% asthma, 45% COPD).
• Utilized the Test of Adherence to Inhalers (TAI) questionnaire, alongside sociodemographic data, Asthma Control Test (ACT), COPD Assessment Test (CAT), and spirometry.
• Multivariate analysis was performed to identify risk factors for non-adherence.

Main Results:

• Asthma patients demonstrated significantly lower adherence rates (28%) compared to COPD patients (49%).
• Non-adherence patterns differed: asthma patients exhibited more erratic and deliberate non-adherence, while COPD patients showed more unwitting non-adherence.
• Younger age (<50 years) and active working status were identified as risk factors for non-adherence across both groups.

Conclusions:

• Non-adherence to inhaled therapies is more prevalent in asthma than COPD, with distinct behavioral patterns.
• Sociodemographic characteristics appear to be key drivers of these differences.
• Tailored educational interventions considering disease-specific non-adherence patterns are recommended for optimizing treatment outcomes.