Prioritising Patient Outcomes and Reducing Environmental Burden: How Both Are Achievable in Respiratory Care

Patient outcomes must take precedence when considering environmental legislation related to the availability of inhaler devices, which are essential for the care of patients with respiratory diseases. This article reviews presentations and abstracts from the European Respiratory Society (ERS) International Congress 2023, held in Milan, Italy, in September 2023. The sessions focused on healthcare inequality and patient outcomes, highlighting the need for stakeholders to make patient-centric decisions in order to ensure access to essential inhaled medicines are prioritised. This is especially important during a period when there is an increasing need to reduce the carbon footprint associated with respiratory care. During a satellite symposium, co-chairs John Hurst, Professor of Respiratory Medicine at University College London (UCL), UK, and Helen Reddel, Research Leader at the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, Australia, emphasised the necessity of addressing environmentally sustainable respiratory care while prioritising patient outcomes. Christine Jenkins, Clinical Professor of Respiratory Medicine at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, Australia, discussed the association between health inequity and uncontrolled chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma, and how that relates to the carbon footprint of treatment. Alberto Papi, Full Professor of Respiratory Medicine at the University of Ferrara, Italy, examined how implementing evidence-based guidelines can improve patient outcomes and reduce the carbon footprint of respiratory care, and the progress being made in the transition to near-zero propellants in pressurised metered-dose inhaler (pMDI) devices. Omar Usmani, Professor of Respiratory Medicine at the National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI), Imperial College London, UK, stressed that pMDIs contain essential medicines, and inhaler regimens should not be considered readily interchangeable. He urged the respiratory community to ensure that their voice is heard in decisions where it relates to the environment regarding COPD and asthma care. The symposium emphasised the opportunities to reduce the environmental impact of respiratory care whilst prioritising patient outcomes. By supporting the transition to climate-friendly propellants in pMDI devices, and implementing guidelines to improve patient outcomes, the overall carbon footprint of respiratory care can be reduced. However, this must be done without limiting access to essential medicines, or increasing adverse health outcomes. The symposium identified pathways towards achieving patient-centric, sustainable respiratory care by improving outcomes, harnessing innovation, and promoting multi-stakeholder collaboration.