16 Oct Interactive Digital Tool Lungprint Aims To Help Asthma Sufferers Take Control Of Their Symptoms

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Dr. Trudo

Frank Trudo, MD, MBA
Brand Medical Lead US Respiratory
AstraZeneca

MedicalResearch.com: Would you tell us about Lungprint?  How will Lungprint help asthma patients take better control of their disease?

Response: Lungprint is an interactive digital tool that creates a dynamic visual representation of a person’s lungs based on their unique experiences with asthma. It is meant to provide people with asthma a better understanding of the role of asthma in their life and motivate them to have a more personalized conversation with their healthcare provider about the severity of their symptoms, a more individualized treatment plan and a blood test that measures eosinophil levels.

Each person’s Lungprint, which is generated as they respond to a digital questionnaire about their experience with asthma, will help reveal information about their individual experience with asthma. You can visit www.lungprint.com to learn more about the tool and create your own Lungprint. 

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this survey? What are the main findings?

Response: To help inform the development of Lungprint, AstraZenca partnered with the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America to conduct a survey on the state of severe asthma today.

This online and in-person survey was fielded to more than 1,000 respondents (804 patients, 109 caregivers and 215 healthcare professionals (HCPs) in April 2017.

Survey findings showed that:

• Severe uncontrolled asthma sufferers report greater limitations in their daily life, as well as a perceived lack of control with current treatment options, as compared to their non-severe, uncontrolled counterparts.
• For many patients, the severe asthma experience is not only defined by the presence or absence of symptoms, but also by an impact on aspects of life, including self-confidence, social/physical functioning and emotional well-being.
• Severe uncontrolled asthma patients are less satisfied with current treatment options and report a greater lack of control, including more frequent emergency room (ER) visits.
• There are wide variations in the asthma experience, and many HCPs believed that their patients are not clear about the severity of their asthma or the role that eosinophils can play.
• These findings confirmed that there is a need to better recognize the impact of asthma and facilitate more individualized patient-physician conversations.

To learn more about the survey findings, visit: http://www.aafa.org/media/my-life-with-asthma-in-2017-survey-findings-report.pdf

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: There is a pervasive misperception that there is only one type of asthma and all asthma patients share the same experience, particularly among severe uncontrolled asthma patients who may assume that their symptoms are just a “normal” part of having asthma. However, we believe the asthma experience is as unique to an individual as their thumbprint, and more personalized treatment planning should be the norm.

Understanding the role of both external and internal triggers for a person’s asthma is key to proper diagnosis and treatment planning. We encourage asthma patients to focus on their individual needs and empower them to work with their healthcare team towards a more personalized approach to asthma control.

MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add? Any disclosures?

Response: Over the next few months, we will be rolling out a series of online vignettes on https://www.facebook.com/easthma to help turn a spotlight on the unique experiences of people living with asthma. Through relatable content, we want to inspire people to begin a more personal conversation with their physician about asthma control and demand treatment that better meets their individualized needs.

Citation:

My Life With Asthma

This survey was a research project of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America with support from AstraZeneca.

http://www.aafa.org/media/my-life-with-asthma-in-2017-survey-findings-report.pdf

Note: Content is Not intended as medical advice. Please consult your health care provider regarding your specific medical condition and questions.

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Last Updated on October 16, 2017 by Marie Benz MD FAAD