REMOTE monitoring in routine paediatric asthma care significantly reduced hospital visits and improved asthma control, according to a multicentre study presented at ERS Congress 2025. Researchers reported lower rates of outpatient, emergency, and hospital visits among children using remote monitoring compared with standard care, alongside marked gains in disease control.
Study tracks long-term impact of remote monitoring
The study analysed healthcare data from 1,278 children with asthma across four Dutch hospitals between 2017–2023. More than half of participants (53.8%) used remote monitoring for at least part of the follow-up period. Children were aged 6–18 years and tracked for at least 2 years. Researchers compared outpatient, emergency, and hospital visits between groups and evaluated asthma control before and after remote monitoring initiation.
Hospitalisations and emergency visits cut nearly in half
Children using remote monitoring required fewer outpatient visits (median reduction: 0.62 visits per year, p<0.001). The rate of emergency visits was 45% lower in the remote monitoring group (incidence rate ratio [IRR]: 0.55; 95% CI: 0.44–0.68), with a number needed to treat of 24. Hospitalisations were reduced by 58% (IRR: 0.42; 95% CI: 0.30–0.59), with a number needed to treat of 35. Interrupted time series analysis confirmed a significant ongoing reduction in outpatient visits over time. Importantly, asthma control improved from 68.6% at baseline to 90.1% after 43 months of remote monitoring.
Remote monitoring reshapes future asthma care
These findings suggest remote monitoring can meaningfully reduce healthcare burden while supporting better asthma control in children. The results build real-world evidence for integrating digital health strategies into routine paediatric respiratory care.
If scaled more widely, remote monitoring could help optimise resource use, reduce hospital strain, and improve long-term outcomes for children with asthma.
Reference
Oppelaar M et al. Assessment of healthcare consumption and asthma control after implementation of remote monitoring in long-term multicentre paediatric asthma care. Abstract OA2346. ERS Congress, 27 September-1 October, 2025.
