Identifying impacts of air pollution on subacute asthma symptoms using digital medication sensors.

Background: Objective tracking of asthma medication use and exposure in real-time and space has not been feasible previously. Exposure assessments have typically been tied to residential locations, which ignore exposure within patterns of daily activities.

Methods: We investigated the associations of exposure to multiple air pollutants, derived from nearest air quality monitors, with space-time asthma rescue inhaler use captured by digital sensors, in Jefferson County, Kentucky.

COPD exacerbations associated with the modified Medical Research Council scale and COPD assessment test among Humana Medicare members.

Background: The Global initiative for chronic Obstructive Lung Disease guidelines recommend assessment of COPD severity, which includes symptomatology using the modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) or COPD assessment test (CAT) score in addition to the degree of airflow obstruction and exacerbation history. While there is great interest in incorporating symptomatology, little is known about how patient reported symptoms are associated with future exacerbations and exacerbation-related costs.

Methods: The mMRC and CAT were mailed to a randomly selected sample of 4,000 Medicare members aged >40 years, diagnosed with COPD (≥2 encounters with International Classification of Dis eases-9th Edition Clinical Modification: 491.