Adherium (ASK:ADR) touted data from an independent study of its Smartinhaler respiratory disease management tool in children with poorly controlled asthma. The STAAR study was conducted at Sheffield Children’s Hospital in the UK and the results were published this month in Thorax.
The New Zealand-based company found that in children with poorly controlled asthma, introducing its digital adherence monitoring system correlated with a significant reduction in hospital admissions over a 12 month period.
The team examined 77 children, 38 of which used Smartinhaler adherence monitoring with medication reminders and clinical feedback while the other half received usual care as a control group.
In the intervention group, adherence to prescribed medication averaged 70%, compared to 49% in the control group. Nearly half of the participants in the intervention arm maintained average adherence rates of greater than 80% for the year long period. Improved adherence also led to significant reduction in asthma exacerbations, such as shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing. The need for oral steroids was 53% more common in the control group compared to those using the Smartinhaler tech. The researchers estimated that this would theoretically prevent 12 hospitalizations in 1 year among those in the intervention group, which would reduce costs for those patients.
“This study provides good evidence that adherence monitoring with feedback can significantly improve clinical outcomes when used in the management of children with poorly controlled asthma,” lead investigator Dr. Robert Morton said in prepared remarks. “The benefits of the intervention were sustained over a prolonged period of time, and we have shown that this approach can be effectively administered in a clinically practical way. We would recommend this approach to be integrated into the standard care of children with poorly controlled asthma.”
“Seeing a significant increase in medication adherence and reduction in asthma exacerbations combined with a reduction in children being admitted to hospital is proof of the clinical effectiveness of our Smartinhaler technology,” CEO Garth Sutherland added. “The impact of adherence monitoring on the health of patients is clear and we continue to work with our partners to make it accessible to all those who would benefit.”
