Abstract
Background and objective With the increase in use of digital technologies, there is growing interest in digital markers, where technology is used to detect early markers of disease deterioration. The aim of this systematic review is to summarise the evidence relating to digital markers of asthma exacerbations.
Methods A systematic search of the following databases: Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, Psycinfo, Cochrane Database of systematic reviews and Cochrane Central register of controlled trials was conducted, using key search terms relating to asthma, digital, and exacerbations. Studies that aimed to explore the relationship between any digitally-measured marker and asthma exacerbations using any form of portable digital sensor technology were included.
Results Twenty-three papers were included. The digital markers related to five key categories: environmental, physiological, medication, lung function, and breath-related parameters. The most commonly studied marker was lung function, which was reported in over half (13/23) of the papers. However, studies were conflicting in terms of the use of lung function parameters as a predictor of asthma exacerbations. Medication parameters were measured in over a third of the studies (10/23) with a focus on short-acting beta-agonist (SABA) use as a marker of exacerbations. Only four and two studies measured heart rate and cough respectively, however both parameters were positively associated with exacerbations in all reported studies.
Conclusion Several digital markers are associated with asthma exacerbations. This suggests a potential role for using parameters such as heart rate, SABA use and potentially cough as digital markers of asthma exacerbations.
Footnotes
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Conflict of interest: F.A.M, C.D, G.M are employees of ENA Respiratory Pty Ltd, receive an annual salary and other benefits. In addition, they have shares and share options and are named inventors on numerous granted or pending patent applications controlled by ENA.
Conflict of interest: AHYC reports research grants from Health Research Council of New Zealand, Asthma UK, University of Auckland, Oakley Mental Health Foundation, Chorus Ltd, World Health Organisation, Hong Kong University, and consultancy fees from Breathing and Medical Ltd outside the submitted work and all paid to her institution (the University of Auckland). She is the previous holder of a Robert Irwin Postdoctoral Fellowship and current recipient of the Auckland Medical Research Foundation Senior Research Fellowship. AHYC is also affiliated with Asthma UK Centre of Applied research and also reports consultancy fees from AcademyeX and Spoonful of Sugar Ltd, and is a Board member of Asthma NZ, international member of the Pharmacy Respiratory Task Force Australia, member of the Respiratory Effectiveness Group (REG) and working group lead for ERS “CONNECT”.
Conflict of interest: All other authors declare no relevant conflicts of interest.
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- Received January 4, 2024.
- Accepted June 4, 2024.
- Copyright ©The authors 2024
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