Smart inhaler helps asthmatic kids breathe easier

A new smart inhaler developed by respiratory technology company Nexus6 has been demonstrated to encourage child asthmatics to take medication.

Children using the SmartTrack inhaler, which incorporates an audio reminder function into standard inhaler technology, were 180% more likely to take their medication during a New Zealand trial.

The children who had audio reminders turned on had an adherence of 84% with their prescribed medications. This compares to just 30% in those without the additional reminder.

Only 9.5% of children using the audiovisual reminder required interventionist rescue medication, compared to 17.4% of controls.

The trial was conducted by researchers from Cure Kids, the Health Research Council and the University of Auckland. It involved 220 patients aged between six and 15.

Nexus6 Smartinhalers have been approved in Australia, New Zealand, Europe and the US, but this is the first time they have been tested in children.

Cure Kids chairman of child health research Professor Ed Mitchell said the device represents an opportunity to improve the quality of life for young asthma sufferers.

“Doctors can only guess at how often an inhaler has been used or not, and how much a patient’s symptoms are a feature of the disease or due to deficient use of the prescribed medications,” he said.

“We know that medication adherence dramatically reduces the risk of attack. This important study shows that new technology like the SmartTrack device can substantially improve symptom control, wellbeing and overall quality of life.”