Findings on remote patient monitoring for better asthma control: Research posters from AAAAI 2020

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) Annual Meeting couldn’t take place this year due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. However, there’s still a wealth of newly published research posters from the conference available online. 

Propeller contributed to six posters with research partners at Northshore University Health System, Children’s Hospital Colorado and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Research into the clinical effectiveness of the remote monitoring of respiratory medication usage is particularly important at a time when patients at higher risk of COVID-19 complications have decreased access to in-person care. 

Here’s a snapshot of each poster. Click the links to read each publication in full.

Presented with Northshore University Health System

Poster: 178, A Randomized Controlled Trial of Electronic Medication Monitoring (EMM), Patient Mobile App and Health Care Provider Feedback compared to EMM alone on Inhaled Corticosteroids (ICS) and Short Acting Beta2 Agonists (SABA) Utilization and Asthma

Authors: G. S. Mosnaim, C. Gonzalez, B. Adams, L. J. Zhu, P. Quan, N. BenIsrael-Olive, M. Shalowitz, R. Gondalia, L. Kaye, D. A. Stempel

Summary: In a randomized controlled trial, adults with uncontrolled asthma received Propeller sensors for their rescue inhalers. Over a period of three months, the patients who used Propeller experienced a 22% increase in SABA-free days as opposed to the control group’s 8% increase. The poster also demonstrates that Propeller can support improvements in ICS adherence in tandem with the reduction in rescue usage.

Poster: 180, Electronic Medication Monitoring vs. Self-Reported Use of Inhaled Corticosteroids and Short Acting Beta2 Agonists in Adult Patients with Uncontrolled Asthma

Authors: L. Kaye, R. Gondalia, C. Gonzalez, B. Adams, L. J. Zhu, P. Quan, N. BenIsrael-Olive, M. Shalowitz, D. A. Stempel, G. S. Mosnaim

Summary: When discussing their rescue inhaler usage, patients with uncontrolled asthma self-reported much higher usage than their objective Propeller data showed. Because clinicians often make treatment decisions — like changes to medications and therapies — based on patient self-reported information, it’s important to compare the accuracy of the self-reported data against objective clinical data from remote monitoring technology.

Presented with Children’s Hospital Colorado

Poster: 674, Prevalence and adherence trends of inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting bronchodilator (ICS/LABA) and ICS monotherapy by age group using electronic medication monitoring (EMM) data from 2017-2019

Authors: W. Anderson III, R. Gondalia, H. Hoch, S. Szefler, D. Stempel

Summary: Among 6,060 patients with asthma using the Propeller platform in a study beginning in January 2017, children aged four to 11 had the lowest ICS/LABA usage. By June 2019, Propeller data indicated that this same age group had the greatest proportional increase of ICS/LABA usage. This shows the ability for a digital health platform, over time, to track trends in medication usage among specific patient populations.

Presented by our partner, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Poster: 355, Parental Self-Efficacy Among Minority Caregivers of Children with Moderate to Severe Asthma 

Authors: A. Pappalardo, K. Boon, J. Fierstein, G. Peirats Moore, R. Gupta

Summary: Parental asthma self-efficacy — the belief one knows how to manage their child’s asthma condition — is not well understood among parents of Black or Latinx heritage. This poster found that parental self-efficacy was high in these populations, but may vary depending on the age of the child.

Poster: 678, Acceptability of Inhaler Sensors in Pediatric Asthma Management among Parents

Authors: K. Kan, S. Shaunfield, M. Kanaley, A. Chadha, K. Boon, D. Vojta, R. Gupta

Summary: In a year-long trial, a majority of parents said that Propeller was compatible with their daily cellphone use and promoted asthma self-management for their children. As a result of using Propeller, 70% of parents reported improved health outcomes in their children, noting fewer asthma attacks and better general health.

Poster: 681, Parent Perceptions on Enhanced Monitoring with Pediatric Asthma Sensor Technology

Authors: M. Kanaley, K. Kan, S. Shaunfield, A. Chadha, K. Boon, D. Vojta, R. Gupta 

Summary: Parents and their children with asthma participated in a remote patient monitoring where the parents were notified by a clinician when their child exhibited increased rescue inhaler usage. Parents found reassurance by the enhanced monitoring, although improvements in timing of calls can be made.

Questions for our Research team? Email help@propellerhealth.com. 

If you are interested in offering Propeller to your patients with asthma or COPD, email provider@propellerhealth.com.