Clinically-enhanced digital health program for respiratory care associated with better medication use and retention

Abstract Digital health platforms for asthma self-management have demonstrated promise in improving clinical and quality of life outcomes. However, few studies have examined such an approach in a real-world, fully remote setting. As such, we evaluated the benefit of an evidence-based digital self-ma...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Leanne Kaye, Vy Vuong, Urvashi Patel, Douglas Mager, Meredith A. Barrett
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-12-01
Series:npj Primary Care Respiratory Medicine
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41533-024-00404-8
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850086282598809600
author Leanne Kaye
Vy Vuong
Urvashi Patel
Douglas Mager
Meredith A. Barrett
author_facet Leanne Kaye
Vy Vuong
Urvashi Patel
Douglas Mager
Meredith A. Barrett
author_sort Leanne Kaye
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Digital health platforms for asthma self-management have demonstrated promise in improving clinical and quality of life outcomes. However, few studies have examined such an approach in a real-world, fully remote setting. As such, we evaluated the benefit of an evidence-based digital self-management platform for asthma—both on its own and when integrated into an established virtual clinical service. We compared six-month outcomes of a digital self-management program plus virtual clinical oversight, called a therapeutic resource center, (DP + TRC) with a digital self-management-only (DP) program in patients with uncontrolled asthma. The DP included electronic medication sensors that captured the date and time of both short-acting beta agonist (SABA) and controller medication usage. The TRC included remote care oversight to promote inhaler adherence and address symptom worsening. SABA usage, controller adherence and program retention were assessed retrospectively using regression models controlling for age, enrollment year, controller/SABA use, and baseline asthma control status.18,584 DP patients (mean age (SD): 33 (14.6) yrs; 89.9% uncontrolled asthma) and 3440 DP + TRC patients (mean age (SD): 43.7 (15.6) yrs); 48.6% uncontrolled) were assessed. We observed significantly better six-month program retention (55% vs. 41%, p < 0.001) and controller adherence (54% vs. 45%, p < 0.001), but no statistically significant differences in mean SABA use (0.76 vs. 0.87 mean puffs/day; p = 0.158) for the DP + TRC vs. DP groups, respectively. From baseline to six months, both groups had similar reductions in mean daily SABA use (both p < 0.001) and improvements in the percent of SABA-free days (both p < 0.001). The proportion of patients with ≥80% controller adherence declined in both groups, but a larger relative decline was noted in the DP vs. DP + TRC group. A digital self-management platform for asthma management combined with virtual clinical oversight may offer a scalable solution that not only achieves reduced SABA use, but also promotes medication adherence and increases program retention.
format Article
id doaj-art-9cc120d762ea4812ba42d85aefd5c5ac
institution DOAJ
issn 2055-1010
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series npj Primary Care Respiratory Medicine
spelling doaj-art-9cc120d762ea4812ba42d85aefd5c5ac2025-08-20T02:43:32ZengNature Portfolionpj Primary Care Respiratory Medicine2055-10102024-12-013411510.1038/s41533-024-00404-8Clinically-enhanced digital health program for respiratory care associated with better medication use and retentionLeanne Kaye0Vy Vuong1Urvashi Patel2Douglas Mager3Meredith A. Barrett4ResMed Science CenterResMed Science CenterEvernorth Health ServicesEvernorth Health ServicesResMed Science CenterAbstract Digital health platforms for asthma self-management have demonstrated promise in improving clinical and quality of life outcomes. However, few studies have examined such an approach in a real-world, fully remote setting. As such, we evaluated the benefit of an evidence-based digital self-management platform for asthma—both on its own and when integrated into an established virtual clinical service. We compared six-month outcomes of a digital self-management program plus virtual clinical oversight, called a therapeutic resource center, (DP + TRC) with a digital self-management-only (DP) program in patients with uncontrolled asthma. The DP included electronic medication sensors that captured the date and time of both short-acting beta agonist (SABA) and controller medication usage. The TRC included remote care oversight to promote inhaler adherence and address symptom worsening. SABA usage, controller adherence and program retention were assessed retrospectively using regression models controlling for age, enrollment year, controller/SABA use, and baseline asthma control status.18,584 DP patients (mean age (SD): 33 (14.6) yrs; 89.9% uncontrolled asthma) and 3440 DP + TRC patients (mean age (SD): 43.7 (15.6) yrs); 48.6% uncontrolled) were assessed. We observed significantly better six-month program retention (55% vs. 41%, p < 0.001) and controller adherence (54% vs. 45%, p < 0.001), but no statistically significant differences in mean SABA use (0.76 vs. 0.87 mean puffs/day; p = 0.158) for the DP + TRC vs. DP groups, respectively. From baseline to six months, both groups had similar reductions in mean daily SABA use (both p < 0.001) and improvements in the percent of SABA-free days (both p < 0.001). The proportion of patients with ≥80% controller adherence declined in both groups, but a larger relative decline was noted in the DP vs. DP + TRC group. A digital self-management platform for asthma management combined with virtual clinical oversight may offer a scalable solution that not only achieves reduced SABA use, but also promotes medication adherence and increases program retention.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41533-024-00404-8
spellingShingle Leanne Kaye
Vy Vuong
Urvashi Patel
Douglas Mager
Meredith A. Barrett
Clinically-enhanced digital health program for respiratory care associated with better medication use and retention
npj Primary Care Respiratory Medicine
title Clinically-enhanced digital health program for respiratory care associated with better medication use and retention
title_full Clinically-enhanced digital health program for respiratory care associated with better medication use and retention
title_fullStr Clinically-enhanced digital health program for respiratory care associated with better medication use and retention
title_full_unstemmed Clinically-enhanced digital health program for respiratory care associated with better medication use and retention
title_short Clinically-enhanced digital health program for respiratory care associated with better medication use and retention
title_sort clinically enhanced digital health program for respiratory care associated with better medication use and retention
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41533-024-00404-8
work_keys_str_mv AT leannekaye clinicallyenhanceddigitalhealthprogramforrespiratorycareassociatedwithbettermedicationuseandretention
AT vyvuong clinicallyenhanceddigitalhealthprogramforrespiratorycareassociatedwithbettermedicationuseandretention
AT urvashipatel clinicallyenhanceddigitalhealthprogramforrespiratorycareassociatedwithbettermedicationuseandretention
AT douglasmager clinicallyenhanceddigitalhealthprogramforrespiratorycareassociatedwithbettermedicationuseandretention
AT meredithabarrett clinicallyenhanceddigitalhealthprogramforrespiratorycareassociatedwithbettermedicationuseandretention