Introduction

The impact of greenhouse gases on respiratory health is widely acknowledged, however, it is less well known that respiratory devices such as pressurized Metered Dose Inhalers (pMDI) contribute significantly to global warming due to propellant gases used in them.

Aims and Objectives

1.    To assess the existing prevalence of pMDIs, and eligibility to switch to environmentally friendly Dry Powdered Inhalers (DPIs), among COPD patients in the Respiratory wards at a District General hospital in England, United Kingdom.
2.    To assess the level of awareness among medical professionals regarding the environmental impact of pMDIs.

Methodology

Over 2 weeks, 50 COPD patients were audited to assess the inhalers they use, their eligibility to switch to DPIs using Ellipta whistles and if the environmental sustainability of their inhalers held relevance to them. Simultaneously, a questionnaire was used to assess knowledge about the environmental impact of pMDIs among 16 medical professionals.

Results

Out of 88 inhalers prescribed, 86.4% of them were pMDIs. 84.6% of patients expressed a desire to change to environmentally friendly inhalers and 74.0% of them were successfully able to use the Ellipta whistles. In the questionnaire, medical professionals scored a range of 4-7 points with an average score of 5.25 out of a total of 9 points.

Conclusion

Given the willingness and suitability of COPD patients to be switched to DPIs, there is a significant potential to reduce carbon emissions by educating patients and medical professionals about the use/ prescription of environmentally friendly dry powdered inhalers.