INFLOW study: a prospective observational study for assessment of indacaterol and other bronchodilators in symptomatic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients from Egypt

Abstract

BackgroundThe INdacaterol eFfectiveness and utiLizatiOn in COPD: real-World evaluation (INFLOW) study demonstrated significant improvements in health status with decreasing Clinical COPD Questionnaire (CCQ) scores in routine clinical practice with indacaterol (IND) and other bronchodilators from 12 countries in Asia, the Middle East and South Africa. Here, we report the data on real-life effectiveness of IND and other bronchodilators from Egypt.MethodsIn this 6-month, noninterventional, open-label study, patients were prescribed IND (150 or 300 μg) or other longacting β2-agonists (LABAs) or tiotropium (TIO) (monotherapy or in combination with IND or LABAs) as a part of routine medical care. Health status (CCQ scores), patient and physician satisfaction and safety were assessed.ResultsData were analysed from 152 patients (IND, n=88; IND+TIO, n=27; other-LABAs, n=6; TIO, n=10; and other- LABAs+TIO, n=21). At the end of the study, reduction from baseline CCQ total score was significant (P<0.0001) with IND and other treatments. Approximately 80% of patients were satisfied and physicians rated the current prescribed treatments as ‘good’ or ‘very good’ for over 70% of the patients. More than 80% of patients rated the indacaterol inhaler (Breezhaler) device as ‘easy’ and ‘very easy to use’, and physicians rated over 70% of patients as ‘clearly understood the use of the device’. No adverse events related to premature discontinuation were reported.ConclusionIn real-world settings, IND as monotherapy or in combination with TIO was effective in improving the health status in COPD patients and is well tolerated. The majority of patients reported that the Breezhaler device was easy to use.