Percorrer por autor "Duarte, Maria Beatriz"
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- A Abordagem farmacológica da DPOC e as iminentes mudanças de paradigmaPublication . Duarte, Maria Beatriz; Grenha, Ana MargaridaChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been a major public health problem and will continue to be a challenge for physicians in the 21st century. Globally, it is at the center of attention due to its high prevalence, morbidity and mortality, creating challenges for health systems. In 2019, COPD was the third most common cause of death (in terms of age-standardized mortality rate) worldwide, accounting for 3.3 million deaths. The treatment of COPD involves the administration of medications via inhalation, with the selection of drugs and devices being crucial in reducing symptoms and the risk of exacerbations. Among the various types of inhalation devices, pressurized metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) are the most commonly prescribed and used by COPD patients worldwide. These devices use hydrofluoroalkanes (HFA) as propellants, which have greenhouse effect and contribute to global warming. In 2018, MDIs were responsible for direct emissions of approximately 18 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) placing them under the scope of the European Union (EU) Fluorinated Gases Regulation. This situation has put the continued use of MDIs at risk, as the EU aims to phase them out. New strategies are required to minimize or eliminate the environmental impact of MDIs, while ensuring that new devices maintain or improve therapeutic efficacy so that the many thousands of patients with controlled disease can continue their treatment. This paradigm shift has driven the scientific community and pharmaceutical companies to seek new therapeutic solutions for COPD. This dissertation aims to conduct a literature review on the development of new alternatives and solutions for COPD therapy.