Applicability of the MASK-Air® App to Severe Asthma Treated with Biologic Molecules: A Pilot Study

Abstract

MASK-air (R), a good practice of the DG Sante, has been fully validated in allergic rhinitis, but little is known about its applicability to asthmatics. We explored whether the MASK-air (R) application is applicable to patients with severe asthma. Severe asthmatics were proposed to use the MASK-air (R) application for 6 months, along with best practice treatment. Treatment of the patients was not changed based on the application results. The evolution of the visual analogue scales (VAS) for asthma, shortness of breath, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, work, and sleep was monitored using MASK-air (R). Adherence to MASK-air (R) and to the asthma treatment was also checked. Thirteen patients reported on 1229 days of MASK-air (R) use. The average application adherence was 51.8% (range: 19.7-98.9%). There was no correlation between application and medication adherence. Highly variably trends were found for the VAS for asthma. Five patients had over 90% well-controlled days, four had wellor moderately controlled asthma (with up to 20% uncontrolled days), one patient had moderately controlled asthma with approximately 20% uncontrolled days, and one patient had 80% uncontrolled days. Highly significant correlations were found for the VAS for asthma, and other patients reported VASs for work, dyspnea, sleep, and rhinitis. MASK-air (R) can be used in patients with severe asthma. VAS asthma appears to be an interesting patient-reported outcome highly correlated with dyspnea and impacts on work. Adherence to the application was better than that for rhinitis, but it needs to be improved.