Dual-combination maintenance inhaler preferences in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A patient-centered benefit-risk assessment

For treating asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), there are a variety of dual-combination maintenance inhalers. Researchers here elicited patient preferences for maintenance inhaler device and medication attributes through a discrete choice experiment. Using these in benefit-risk assessments, they determined predicted choice probabilities (PrCPs) for 14 dual-combination maintenance inhalers in four treatment classes: lower- and higher-dose inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)/long-acting beta agonist (LABA) inhalers for asthma, and ICS/LABA and long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA)/LABA inhalers for COPD. For all treatment classes, the most important attributes were reduced exacerbations and faster onset of action. Among patients using inhalers of different treatment classes, only the preferences for device type and dose counter differed, which were among the least valued attributes. In view of the differences between the predicted preferences and actual prescriptions, they emphasize considering the patient perspective.