A Comparative Study of Two Pneumatic Nebulizers for the Treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD); pre and post modification with polypropylene membrane

Background and Objective: Pneumatic nebulizers (PN) are commonly used to treat COPD. We aimed to evaluate and compare two PNs with respect to effectiveness and delivery, and the effect of using a membrane filter to prevent drug wastage. Methods: COPD patients (240) were divided into an experimental group (EG); treated with a YZB/GEM1058-2009 medical atomizer, and a control group (CG); treated with a DNA100 medical atomizer. A polypropylene membrane was then applied to each nebulizer. Results: Wastage per inhalation was 79.56% in the EG, and 87% in the CG and reduced to 35.3% in the EG and 42.1% in the CG following application of a polypropylene membrane. The  ratio of drug not atomised per inhalation was 10.32% in the EG, and 24.52% in the CG and altered to 30.2% and 37.3% with the polypropylene membrane. The total effective rate, cure rate and weekly efficiency were 96.7%, 73.3% and 93.3%, respectively in the EG, and 93.3%, 60% and 83.3% respectively in the CG, and increased to 100%, 93.3% and 100%, respectively in the EG, and 100%, 83.3% and 93.3%, respectively, in the CG with the membrane application. The number of days required to be effective was 4±2.4 days in the EG, and 7±3.8 in the CG and decreased to 3±1.4 in the EG, and 5±3.1 in the CG with the membrane. Conclusions : There was a high percentage of drug wastage with both PNs. YZB/GEM1058-2009 was significantly more effective than DNA100 but a polypropylene microporous membrane significantly improved the effectiveness of both. Keywords: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; Pneumatic Nebulizer; Drug waste; Polypropylene microporous membrane