Advancements in Smart Inhaler Technology for Enhancing Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Care

Recent years have seen impressive advances in inhalation therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, though important gaps in care remain regarding poor adherence to inhaled medications. The ongoing improvements in devices for COPD treatment and therapy represent significant progress in managing this chronic respiratory condition. These advancements offer many potential benefits for improving health outcomes, reducing illness burden, and lessening the impact of COPD on patients and healthcare systems. The devices can decrease side effects and adverse events caused by medications. Digital inhaler health platforms that monitor dosing time and date promote collaborative clinician–patient care and provide deeper insight into actual use. By recording and transmitting inhaler actuation data, and sometimes evaluating technique, these sensor-equipped inhalers objectively measure adherence. Patients can interact with reminders and record their health status. Clinicians can then access remote data on disease status, adherence, and technique to better inform care. Given the ability to remotely monitor patients, interest in using digital inhalers in clinical practice and research is growing. More than 20 studies show digital inhalers improve adherence, exacerbation risk, and outcomes, supporting known behaviors but with more detail, and revealing new medication-taking behaviors. Flow recording during use can guide technique and potentially provide a clinical lung function measure. Though adoption is early, digital inhalers show promise pending further research on acceptability, appropriate use, and cost-effectiveness.