Pulmonology

COPD

Expert Roundtables Podcast: Treatment Adherence in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

expert roundtables by Surya P. Bhatt, MD; MeiLan K. Han, MD, MS; Fernando J. Martinez, MD, MS

Overview

Treatment adherence is a major determinant of outcomes for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, with poor adherence linked to more exacerbations and greater health care use. Join expert panelists Surya P. Bhatt, MD, MeiLan K. Han, MD, MS, and Fernando J. Martinez, MD, MS, as they discuss real-world factors and practical strategies that can impact maintenance inhaler adherence.

References

Bischof AY, Cordier J, Vogel J, Geissler A. Medication adherence halves COPD patients’ hospitalization risk − evidence from Swiss health insurance data. NPJ Prim Care Respir Med. 2024;34(1):1. doi:10.1038/s41533-024-00361-2

COPD Foundation. COPD educational video series. Reviewed October 3, 2021. Accessed May 4, 2026. https://www.copdfoundation.org/Learn-More/Educational-Materials-Resources/Educational-Video-Series.aspx

Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease. Global strategy for the diagnosis, management, and prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: 2026 report. Accessed May 4, 2026. https://goldcopd.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/GOLD-REPORT-2026-v1.3-8Dec2025_WMV.pdf

Homętowska H, Świątoniowska-Lonc N, Klekowski J, Chabowski M, Jankowska-Polańska B. Treatment adherence in patients with obstructive pulmonary diseases. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(18):11573. doi:10.3390/ijerph191811573

Liu YR, Wang Y, Peng X, Xie H. The impact of illness perception on medication adherence to inhaler therapy in elderly individuals with COPD. Respir Care. 2025;70(1):65-73. doi:10.1089/respcare.12056

Pattock AM, Locke ER, Hebert PL, et al. Predictors of patient-reported and pharmacy refill measures of maintenance inhaler adherence in veterans with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Ann Am Thorac Soc. 2024;21(3):384-392. doi:10.1513/AnnalsATS.202211-975OC

Tan X, Liu S, Huang L, et al. Correlation analysis of the therapy adherence to long-acting inhalers among patients with stable COPD. Patient Prefer Adherence. 2023;17:1467-1475. doi:10.2147/PPA.S413948

Zhang P, Zhu Y, Wang Y, et al. Effects of the teach-back method on the health status of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a real-world community-based cluster-randomized controlled trial. J Thorac Dis. 2024;16(8):5209-5221. doi:10.21037/jtd-23-1895

Profile

Surya P. Bhatt, MD

Professor of Medicine and Endowed Professor of Airways Disease
Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine
Director, Center for Lung Analytics and Imaging Research
Medical Director, Pulmonary Function and Exercise Physiology Laboratory
The University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, AL

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MeiLan K. Han, MD, MS

Henry Sewall Endowed Professor of Medicine
Chief, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI

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Fernando J. Martinez, MD, MS

Professor, Department of Medicine
Academic Chief, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine
Vice Chair, Clinical and Translational Research
Joseph D. Early Chair in Biomedical Research
University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School
Worcester, MA

Pulmonology

COPD

Expert Roundtables Podcast: Treatment Adherence in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Surya P. Bhatt, MD

MeiLan K. Han, MD, MS

Fernando J. Martinez, MD, MS

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