Peak Inspiratory Flow Rates in Patients With COPD

Recent studies have reported that some COPD patients may have a suboptimal ability to generate a sufficient inspiratory effort to achieve adequate lung delivery of inhaled medications through dry powder inhalers. Sparse data is available about the inspiratory capacity of these patients in the home setting, whether clinically stable or when experiencing worsened respiratory symptoms outside the acute care setting. This study is undertaking this study to better understand the proportion of patients with suboptimal peak inspiratory flow rate (sPIFR) measurements amongst COPD patients receiving dry powder inhaler(s) (DPI) in the ambulatory setting. Further, the study will characterize PIFR over time, the variability of PIFR measurements, and the associations with potential predictors (demographics, clinical, PRO, body position, and device) as well as exacerbations frequency and change in PIFR around period of exacerbation. To complete these aims, 120 participants will be enrolled in a 6 month study to perform PIFR measurements and respiratory questionnaires at home.