Silberman J, Sarlati S, Harris B, et al. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(7):e2521438. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.21438
Key Points
Question Does a digital asthma self-management (DASM) program improve symptom control in adults with asthma?
Findings In a randomized clinical trial enrolling 901 adults with asthma, those receiving a DASM program showed statistically significant improvements in symptom control after 12 months, compared with those receiving usual care. Differences in effectiveness were observed across some demographic groups.
Meaning A DASM program may improve symptom control in adults with asthma, and further program development may be appropriate.
Importance Digital health technologies may improve asthma self-management, but evidence is limited in this area.
Objective To investigate the effect of a digital asthma self-management (DASM) program on asthma symptoms in adults.
Design, Setting, and Participants Patient-reported outcome results were reported from a randomized, pragmatic, parallel-arm, open-label, decentralized clinical trial. Adults with asthma were recruited via email, enrolled from October 29, 2020, through November 4, 2021, and were randomized to DASM or usual care (control). Participants completed study activities outside a clinical setting. Data were analyzed between October 13, 2023, and November 29, 2024.
Intervention The app-based DASM program provided tailored notifications, symptom logging, wearable device integration, and other tools.
Main Outcomes and Measures Change in the Asthma Control Test (ACT) was a primary outcome. The ACT is a validated measure of asthma control. Secondary outcomes included engagement and self-reported medication adherence.
Results Nine hundred and one participants were enrolled, with data available for 899 (639 [71.1%] female; mean [SD] age, 36.6 [10.5] years). For subgroup analyses, 195 participants (21.7%) were African American; 125 (13.9%), Hispanic or Latino; 680 (75.6%), commercially insured; and 219 (24.4%), Medicaid insured. Prespecified analyses of participants with uncontrolled asthma at baseline (n = 550) showed improvements after 12 months by 4.6 (95% CI, 4.1-5.2) ACT points among DASM participants (P < .001) and 1.8 (95% CI, 1.3-2.4) ACT points among controls (P < .001) (adjusted difference, 2.8 [95% CI, 2.0-3.6] points; P < .001). Race moderated this effect. At 12 months, the difference between arms in ACT change favored DASM over control by 1.0 (95% CI, −0.7 to 2.7) points (P = .26) for African American participants and 3.3 (95% CI, 2.4-4.2) points (P < .001) for participants not endorsing African American race (adjusted difference, −2.3 [95% CI, −4.2 to −0.4] points; P = .02 for interaction). Moderation was not observed by insurance (Medicaid vs commercial; adjusted difference, 1.0 [95% CI, −0.8 to 2.8] points; P = .18 for interaction) or ethnicity (Hispanic or Latino vs non-Hispanic; adjusted difference, 1.0 [95% CI, −1.3 to 3.3] points; P = .70 for interaction).
Conclusions and Relevance In this randomized clinical trial of DASM, improved asthma control was observed relative to usual care. Program adaptations may be appropriate to confer benefit throughout diverse populations.