ABSTRACT
Pressurized metered dose inhalers [pMDIs] are commonly used in patients with asthma. However, the need to coordinate inhalation with inhaler actuation means that they are not suitable for use per se. Spacer devices were developed to overcome some of the problems of pMDIs. Several types of holding chambers of different sizes are available in Iran. This study was designed to compare spirometric parameters between Asmyar and Damyar spacers in asthmatic patients. Materials and This was an observational comparative study. Patients with mild to moderate asthma were entered in this study. The ease of use, convenience, and portability of the mentioned spacers were evaluated using a visual analogue scale [VAS]. Lung function was assessed by using a portable spirometer [Spirolab Italy] and spirometric parameters of FEF50%, FEF25-75%, PEF, FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC were measured. Forty patients [25 females, 15 males] with a mean age of 43.10 +/- 12.99 years were studied. Mean +/- SD changes of FVC, FEV1, PEF, FEF25-75%, FEF50% and FEV1/FVC [as percentage of the predicted values] before and after using Asmyar were not significantly different from those of Damyar. However, patient satisfaction was significantly higher with Damyar [P<0.0001]. Lung response after using salbutamol with either Damyar or Asmyar spacers was not significantly different