Posted by: RedaChouffani
mhealth, mHealth apps, telehealth
There are millions of people nationwide afflicted with asthma and most of us can understand how a patient’s condition will change if their symptoms are not treated.
This condition affects patients of all ages, and for most, the breath of a rescue inhaler provides a relief from the shortness of breath and other chest pains associated with an attack.
There are many triggers that cause these attacks, and for some patients it can be very difficult to track and predict when an attack will occur. This is why most continue to keep an inhaler by their side at all times.
One organization, Asthmapolis, whose CEO will be attending and speaking at the International Consumer Electronics Show, has identified a creative way to track and monitor the frequencies and location of asthma attacks by simply fitting the inhaler device with a small cap that records information through sensors when the device is used. The information is compiled and pushed through its mobile app to a central repository where a patient can access it, as well as their physicians, in order to gain more awareness of their asthma triggers.
The data that is collected from all the participants can also be used to help cities such as Louisville, KY, which has signed up for the program to track and see what areas of their city pose the highest triggers for asthma attacks for their residents.
Asthmapolis has created a simple device that can provide incredible value to researchers, payers, physicians, and most importantly patients. Patients’ awareness of their different triggers will reduce the number of hospital admissions due to asthma attacks which will also reduce costs for payers.