Lung function in adult patients with cystic fibrosis after using the eFlow rapid for one year.

BACKGROUND: The new generation nebuliser PARI eFlow® rapid allows a highly efficient aerosol delivery at reduced inhalation time. However, lung function data during long-term use of this device are not available until now.
METHODS: 70 clinically stable adult cystic fibrosis patients participated in this observation study. Lung function tests were performed prospectively 12 weeks after and again 9 to 12 months after switching the inhalation device from a conventional jet nebulizer to the PARI eFlow® rapid. Lung function data were collected retrospectively from the visits 1 year as well as 12 weeks prior to the switch-over. Lung function data for all time points were only available for 59 patients. Treatment time and patient's satification were recorded for both conventional and new nebuliser in all 70 patients.
RESULTS: After 1 year of inhalation with eFlow® rapid, the mean change in FEV1% was - 1.4% (n = 59 patients). The decrease in FEV1 was smaller than the change in FEV1 after 1 year of inhalation with the conventional jet nebuliser (control period, -3.1%), although this difference was not statistically significant. The same effect was seen in MEF25(%) (-2.6% with conventional nebuliser compared to -1.6% after eFlow® rapid). Concerning the FVC, there was a greater improvement after 1 year of inhalation with the eFlow® rapid than with the jet nebuliser (+ 2.9% vs. +1.1%). For PEF%, there was an increase during the control period, whereas after inhalation with eFlow® rapid there was a decrease (+1.1% vs. -2.9%). All changes were not significantly different. The eFlow® rapid reduced total daily inhalation time by two-thirds (conventional nebuliser: 31.1 min/day; eFlow® rapid: 10.2 min/day, n = 70 patients).
CONCLUSION: Inhalation with the new nebuliser eFlow rapid does not alter FEV1, FVC or PEF significantly after 1 year of inhalation. The treatment time could be reduced significantly by the eFlow® rapid.