Propeller Health touts link between air pollution, rescue inhaler use in nationwide asthma study

Propeller Health today touted results from a nationwide study that indicated a direct association between daily air pollution and rescue inhaler use.

Results from the study, which spanned five years and involved more than 2,800 individuals with asthma, were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the Madison, Wisc.-based company said.

Researchers in the study used nationwide data from Propeller’s digital medicine database to analyze the level of fine particulate mater at the time and location of a person’s rescue inhaler use, the company said.

Results from the study indicated that rescue inhaler use increased significantly with increases in daily fine particulate matter exposure, and that pollution increases had the greatest impact on rescue inhaler use during the summer. Lower-income neighborhoods experienced higher pollution exposure and higher rescue medication use on average as compared to higher-income neighborhoods, according to the study.

Study investigators also indicated that a 12% reduction in fine particulate matter concentration, which is less than the 18% reduction attained between 2010 and 2017, would generate $350 million in economic benefits as well.

“This research is groundbreaking in its ability to explore the impact of air pollution down to the time, date and location that the person experienced asthma symptoms, particularly for symptoms that don’t necessarily result in hospitalization. With data generated from digital medicines, we can analyze exacerbations of chronic disease that were previously unobserved to anyone but the patient or their provider,” lead study author Austin Williams said in a press release.

In June, Propellor Health said that it landed an undisclosed investment from McKesson Ventures, following a $20 million funding round the company announced a month earlier.