Study: Propeller’s digital asthma tech informs policy, improves health

Results from a large, real-world study of asthma patients found that digital health technology can improve patient outcomes and inform city-planning policy, Propeller Health touted this month.

The company teamed up with local government in Louisville, Kentucky and a nonprofit group to assess how environmental conditions can influence asthma symptoms using connected inhalers and a data-sharing platform.

In a study published this month in Health Affairs, Propeller showed that use of its platform cut the need for a rescue inhaler by 78% and boosted a user’s number of symptom-free days on average by 48%.

After collecting data regarding medication use, environmental conditions and outcomes, Propeller then shared that data with policymakers, who ultimately prescribed things like enhancing the local tree canopy, mitigating tree removal and zoning for air pollution emission buffers.

“AIR Louisville demonstrated the value of crowdsourced health data, influencing positive outcomes from an individual level up to the policy-making level,” Meredith Barrett, VP of research, said in prepared remarks. “We think the potential for this collaborative approach is huge, and Propeller is committed to using the data we collect across thousands of patients to better understand where, when and why respiratory symptoms happen so that we can help people live healthier lives.”

“Cities exist to provide citizens the opportunity to reach their full human potential — no matter their race, gender, sexual orientation, or ZIP code,” Louisville mayor Greg Fischer added. “This project is a citywide show of compassion for citizens who live here with asthma, and an example of how citizens can contribute their own data to help inform city decisions, and in so doing reignite their civic engagement.”

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