Inhalation errors due to device switch in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma: critical health and economic issues

Researchers compared health and health care utilization outcomes between a group of COPD patients demonstrating at least one "critical error" in inhaler administration to those showing no error. They identified significant differences in hospitalizations rates, emergency department visits as well as steroid and antimicrobial use. Projected differences in resource consumption are also discussed (amounts converted to USD represent a difference of approximately $260 per COPD patient).