1. Asthma management in the digital age
- Author
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Ilan Y. Bocian, Andrew R. Chin, Alyssa Rodriguez, William Collins, Sayantani B. Sindher, and R. Sharon Chinthrajah
- Subjects
digital tools ,asthma ,telemedicine ,remote patient monitoring ,healthcare accessibility ,Immunologic diseases. Allergy ,RC581-607 - Abstract
Asthma affects 25 million people in the United States, and its prevalence is increasing. Access to care and adherence to prescribed asthma-treatment programs remain the principal formidable challenges for asthma management. Telemedicine offers substantial opportunities for improved asthma care of patients across the full range of socioeconomic strata. Ever-improving digital tools for asthma assessment and treatment are key components of telemedicine platforms for asthma management. These include a variety of remote patient-monitoring devices, digital inhaler systems, and mobile-health applications that facilitate ongoing assessment and adherence to treatment protocols. Digital tools for monitoring treatment focus on tracking medication use, inhalation technique, and physiological markers such as peak-flow rate and pulse-oximetry. Telemedicine visits allow for elements of assessment via video, approximating or duplicating many aspects of in-person visits, such as evaluating a patient's general appearance, breathing effort, and cough. Challenges remain in ensuring equitable access to these technologies, especially in rural and low-income areas, and in maintaining patient privacy and data security in digital platforms.
- Published
- 2024
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