HOME MONITORING & TELEHEALTH EDUCATION FOR ASTHMA DISEASE MANAGEMENT

Abstract

<h3>Introduction</h3> Asthma disease management requires self-management skills and personalized clinical interventions. Allergy and Asthma Network (AAN) collaborated with CurieAI and VitalFlo to monitor patient symptoms and spirometry as part of a personalized telehealth asthma education program. <h3>Methods</h3> The Not-One-More-Life telehealth AAN program enrolled participants with severe asthma between July and December 2021 for a 6-week virtual asthma telehealth coaching program. Participants were provided with a cellular-connected bedside tablet device for passive nighttime symptom monitoring. The CurieAI software running on the tablet device enabled daily overnight monitoring for objective assessment of audible symptoms; like cough, sneeze, throat-clearing, wheezing, obstructive-snoring, grunting. VitalFlo solution using a MIR spirometer was provided to measure FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC parameters. <h3>Results</h3> 22 participants used the two home monitoring devices. There were a total of 862 nights of monitoring for symptoms (39+ nights per participant in the 6 weeks). 20 high-level alerts were generated for severe or worsening symptoms. An asthma coach followed these symptoms with the participant, provided treatment plan guidance, and advised them to see the healthcare provider. Participants used VitalFlo solution for an average of 3.5 days per participant during the same 6-week period. 32% of participants experienced improvement in their FEV1 and FVC, and 27% improvement in FEV1/FVC. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Asthma disease management telehealth program with home monitoring devices successfully followed participants' health status. Participants who used the Vitalflo platform to document spirometry use indicated improvement between pre-and-post recordings and the nighttime monitoring identified worsening of symptoms for timely follow-up.