Telemedicine proves effective in asthma management

This is a photo of a female doctor and patient in a telehealth visit and one is holding an asthma inhaler.

If there’s one silver lining from the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s the rise and success of telemedicine.

In the recent study, “The Effectiveness of Telemedicine Methods in the Follow-Up of Asthma in the COVID-19 Pandemic Process,” researchers found no significant difference in asthma control in a telehealth versus in-person visit comparison. The study, which was published in the Turkish journal, Tüberküloz ve Toraks, did report that telehealth appointments were not as effective in cases of severe asthma and the presence of comorbidities.

The study, which included 328 asthma patients aged 18 to 65, highlighted the potential of telemedicine as a viable alternative to traditional face-to-face consultations. Researchers focused on patients who were monitored using telemedicine applications. Clinical evaluations and scale results were conducted at least three times by a single physician. The control group consisted of routine results from asthma patients recorded over a period of Oct. 1, 2019, to Oct. 1, 2020.

Key findings from the study revealed there was not a statistically significant difference in asthma control when comparing telemedicine follow-ups to face-to-face consultations (p>0.05). Although there was a slight decrease in asthma control test scores during telemedicine follow-ups, it was not significant (p>0.05).

Researchers noted that there was a substantial difference in severe persistent asthma follow-ups when comparing asthma control test results and disease severity (p<0.05). They also examined the effect of comorbidity on asthma control, noting telehealth was not as effective in cases of severe asthma and the presence of comorbidities.

According to researchers, the study suggests telemedicine can play a crucial role in the management of asthma, especially during times when traditional face-to-face consultations are not feasible. Further, as health care continues to evolve, the findings of this study underscore the importance of integrating telemedicine into routine clinical practice, offering a glimpse into the future of patient care.

This latest research supports similar findings. A 2022 study published in Current Allergy and Asthma Reports also determined that asthma care via telehealth could significantly benefit patient care for people who have the chronic condition.

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