Enhancing Adult Asthma Management: A Review on the Utility of Remote Home Spirometry and Mobile Applications
Norbert Wellmann, Monica Marc, Emil Robert Stoicescu, Camelia Corina Pescaru, Ana Adriana Trușculescu, Flavia Gabriela Martis, Ioana Ciortea, Alexandru Florian Crișan, Madalina Alexandra Balica, Diana Raluca Velescu, Ovidiu Firă-Mladinescu
Abstract
Asthma is a prevalent chronic disease, contributing significantly to the global burden of disease and economic costs. Despite advances in treatment, inadequate disease management and reliance on reliever medications lead to preventable deaths. Telemedicine, defined as the use of information and communication technology to improve healthcare access, has gained global attention, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. This systematic review examines the effectiveness of home monitoring systems in managing severe asthma. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Library, focusing on studies from 2014 to 2024. Fourteen studies involving 9093 patients were analyzed. The results indicate that telemedicine, through tools such as mobile applications and portable spirometers, positively impacts asthma control, self-management, and quality of life. Home spirometry, in particular, shows strong agreement with clinic spirometry, offering a feasible alternative for continuous monitoring. Digital coaching and machine learning-based telemedicine applications also demonstrate significant potential in improving asthma outcomes. However, challenges such as technology accessibility, data privacy, and the need for standardized protocols remain. This review highlights the promise of telemedicine in asthma management and calls for further research to optimize its implementation and address existing barriers.