Digital asthma intervention improves health and reduces costs 

A pharmacy-supported, digital, medicine programme improved adherence to therapy and inhalation technique in patients with uncontrolled asthma, ultimately resulting in improved asthma control. Next to health benefits for the patients, the results suggest a potential for significant cost reductions.

“Adherence to therapy and an adequate inhaler technique are essential for optimal asthma control,” explained Mr Luca Ponti (Amiko Digital Health, Italy). The current study compared a pharmacy-supported, digital, medicine programme, including inhaler sensors, mHealth apps, and in-person pharmacy-based counselling, with a traditional, pharmacy-based, patient-support programme in 68 participants with uncontrolled asthma [1].

The adherence to therapy was 82% in the experimental arm and 30–50% in the control arm. Furthermore, the digital intervention appeared to improve the rate of correct inhalation technique as compared with the control arm (64% vs 31%). At the end of the study, asthma control scores had improved by an average of 5.9 points in the intervention arm compared with 2.9 points in the control arm (P=0.007). Moreover, the digital intervention was associated with a larger annual cost saving than the control arm (€466; P=0.04).

“The combination of inhaler sensors, mHealth applications, and pharmacist counselling may improve adherence and inhalation technique in patients with uncontrolled asthma, leading to improved asthma control and cost savings,” concluded Mr Ponti.

1. Onnis C, et al. Effect of pharmacy-supported digital medicine program on asthma control. ALERT 2, RCT2162, ERS International Congress 2022, Barcelona, Spain, 4–6 September.

Posted on 30 October 2022