Environmental impact of inhaler devices on respiratory care: a narrative review.
Marilyn Urrutia-PereiraHerberto José Chong-NetoTonya A WindersDirceu SolePublished in: Jornal brasileiro de pneumologia : publicacao oficial da Sociedade Brasileira de Pneumologia e Tisilogia (2023)
Climate change is a huge and present threat to human health. This article aims to deepen the knowledge about the environmental impact of inhaler devices on their carbon footprint for patients and health professionals, providing information that allows a better choice of the type of device to be prescribed for the treatment of asthma and COPD. This narrative and nonsystematic review was carried out by searching databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, SciELO, and EMBASE) for articles published between 2017 and 2022, written in Portuguese or in English, using the search words "inhalation device" OR "environmental." The review showed that global warming cannot be addressed by focusing only on inhaler devices. However, the devices that we use to treat respiratory diseases such as asthma and COPD, which are diseases that are aggravated by climate change, are also causing that change. Therefore, health professionals, patient organizations, and industries should take a lead in health policies to offer affordable alternatives to inhalers containing hydrofluoroalkane.
Keyphrases
- human health
- climate change
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- lung function
- risk assessment
- healthcare
- public health
- end stage renal disease
- ejection fraction
- newly diagnosed
- palliative care
- air pollution
- mental health
- cystic fibrosis
- case report
- health information
- quality improvement
- patient reported outcomes
- social media
- chronic pain