Image of Asthmapolis software.Receiving weekly email reports and online charts summarizing inhaled bronchodilator use and location led to improved asthma control and a decline in day-to-day asthma symptoms, according to new research.

The remote monitoring was conducted by Asthmapolis, an FDA-cleared mobile health solution that combines smartphone applications and snap-on sensors that track when and how often patients use their inhaled medications.

Researchers monitored inhaler use for four months using the Asthmapolis system, and participants completed periodic surveys, including the Asthma Control Test (ACT), in order to assess changes in asthma control.

After the first month, participants received weekly E-mail reports for the remainder of the study period that summarized their inhaler use during the preceding week and provided self-management suggestions derived from National Asthma Education and Prevention Program guidelines.

After participants began receiving e-mail reports and online information about their inhaler use, average ACT scores increased 1.40 points for each subsequent month in the study. At the conclusion of the study period, 75% of participants had controlled asthma (based on ACT score), compared with 38% at entry.

Participants reported increased awareness and understanding of patterns with their asthma, including the time and location of inhaler use, their asthma triggers, level of control and the importance of adherence to preventive practices.