ASSESSMENT OF PEAK INSPIRATORY FLOW FOR OPTIMAL INHALER DEVICE SELECTION IN COPD PATIENTS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Background: Inhaled therapy remains the cornerstone of COPD management. Peak Inspiratory Flow (PIF) is a critical determinant in the appropriate use of dry powder inhalers (DPIs).Failure to match the device to the patients PIF may result in subtherapeutic outcomes. Objective: To evaluate the PIF among COPD patients and assess its implication in selecting the most suitable inhaler device. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 50 COPD patients attending Department of Pulmonary medicine OPD, Santhiram Medical College and General Hospital, Nandyal. PIF(Peak inspiratory flow) was measured using the In-Check DIAL device adjusted to match common inhaler resistance. Data were analyzed for correlation with age, severity of disease (GOLD stage), and inhaler technique. Results: 36% of patients had suboptimal PIF (60 L/min) for high-resistance DPIs. Suboptimal PIF was significantly associated with older age and higher GOLD stage (p 0.05). Conclusion: A significant proportion of COPD patients had inadequate inspiratory flow for effective DPI use. Routine PIF assessment should be integrated into inhaler device selection to ensure optimal therapeutic benefit.