Exciting Era of Sensor-Based Electronic Monitoring of Adherence in Pediatric Asthma.

Abstract

* Abbreviations: ED — : emergency department RCT — : randomized controlled trial Adherence to daily inhaled corticosteroids and short-acting β-agonist medications is an important yet complicated component of asthma management. Despite the importance of daily preventive medication, up to 70% of pediatric patients with asthma are nonadherent to their prescribed medical treatments,1–14 which often leads to increased illness exacerbations, health care use, and missed days of school.15,16 With recent advancements in technology such as Bluetooth sensors, sensor-based monitoring of these medications has become increasingly accessible and popular. Most often, these monitors are paired with a mobile health app that provides some combination of self-monitoring; feedback; education about health, asthma, medications and triggers; encouragement; and the potential to data share with the medical team. In this issue of Pediatrics , Gupta et al17 conducted a randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluating Propeller Health’s sensor-based electronic monitoring system (Propeller Health, Madison, WI). Findings suggest that sensor-based inhaler monitoring with clinical feedback may improve asthma symptom control and caregiver quality of life within diverse populations. It should be noted, however, that although a statistically significant improvement in asthma symptom control was demonstrated, this change did not meet the threshold for a clinically meaningful difference.18 One interesting finding of this study is the increase in health care use in … Address correspondence to Theresa W. Guilbert, MD, MS, Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave, MLC 7041, Cincinnati, OH 45229. E-mail: theresa.guilbert{at}cchmc.org