OBJECTIVES: Asthma places a considerable burden on healthcare systems, particularly when uncontrolled. It is estimated that 43% of asthma patients in Portugal have their disease uncontrolled. Common causes for uncontrolled asthma are sub optimal compliance and inadequate inhaler technique. The objective of this study is to evaluate the potential economic savings achieved through the use of inhalers coupled with apps to improve the inhaler technique and compliance of asthma patients.

METHODS: This analysis considered the Portuguese societal perspective. Direct costs (consultations, emergency, hospitalizations, exams/tests, and transportation) and indirect costs (absenteeism) related with asthma were derived from a previous Portuguese cost-of-illness study and inflated to 2020 EUR prices. The willingness to use apps for asthma control is based on reported literature from Portugal. According to previous studies, it is assumed that up to 72% of users of apps having uncontrolled asthma will reach proper control.

RESULTS: Asthma accounts for a total annual burden of direct healthcare resources (excluding treatments) of € 274 million and of € 15.2 million in indirect costs. The uncontrolled asthma patient population accounts for 69% of the overall burden. Under assumptions on the willingness to use an app for asthma control daily, it is considered that 20.6% of the uncontrolled asthma patients would adopt it to improve medication compliance and inhaler technique, leading to 14.8% of the uncontrolled patient population achieving control. This would lead to a reduction of the overall annual direct medical costs by €17.5 million (-6%) and of €1.8 million (-12%) in indirect costs.

CONCLUSIONS: The adherence/adoption of interventions by asthma patients to improve disease control will potentially have a significant impact in reducing the healthcare and societal burden of asthma in Portugal. The inclusion of additional technologies, such as sensors in inhalers coupled with apps, could further improve asthma control and economic outcomes.