Asthma study using Apple's ResearchKit proven accurate when compared to existing research
A study reports ResearchKit is an extremely effective way to conduct medical research, with patient data collected from asthma sufferers via Apple's framework found to correlate with the results of similar studies using established data collection methods.
Researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai analyzed data from the Asthma Mobile Health Study, a program launched in March 2015 at the same time as Apple introduced ResearchKit itself. Unlike others, this study relied on just a specially-created iPhone app called Asthma Health, co-developed with LifeMap Solutions, which provided users with regular surveys concerning their health.
The app was downloaded almost 50,000 times in the first six months since its launch, according to results published in journal Nature Biotechnology. Of these downloads, a total of 7,593 people completed the electronic informed consent process, allowing data to be collected and analyzed by the researchers.
Out of the people completing the enrollment process, approximately 85 percent of users completed at least one survey offered by the app, which is a promising start. Ultimately, only 2,317 users from the enrolled pool filled out multiple surveys throughout the six-month study, but this was still a sufficient enough sample size for analysis.
The data was compared to the results of other asthma patient studies, with researchers noting common metrics between the sets of results, such as peak flow. Scientists were also able to correlate data from patients with external factors, including air quality, which also appeared to match existing studies.
Changes to the level of pollen and heat could also be corroborated in the study, when taking into account the user's location and other device data. For example, researchers were able to correlate increased daily asthma symptoms in Washington State with a wildfire outbreak, with the two occurring at similar times.
Yvonne Chan, Director of Digital Health and Personalized Medicine for Genomics and Multiscale Biology at Mount Sinai advises the use of iPhones and ResearchKit is "particularly suitable for studies of short duration that require rapid enrollment across diverse geographical locations, frequent data collection, and real-time feedback to participants."
"Our study demonstrates the power of mobile health tools to scale and accelerate clinical research so that we can derive the evidence needed to inform clinical practice and improve patient care."
Eric Schadt, Professor of Genomics at the Icahn School of Medicine and Founding Director of the Icahn Institute for Genomics and Multiscale Biology claims "We now have the ability to capture rich research data from thousands of individuals to better characterize 'real world' patterns of disease, wellness, and behavior. This approach provides a more comprehensive and accurate view of our patients that was not feasible in the past due to logistical limitations and prohibitive costs."
The study's results are likely to bolster ResearchKit's credibility as a framework for medical research, one that is already being used in a number of different projects. One recent study used the Apple Watch and ResearchKit to analyze seizure triggers in epilepsy sufferers, recording biometric data and prompting users to respond for reflex and awareness testing during each seizure event.
Researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai analyzed data from the Asthma Mobile Health Study, a program launched in March 2015 at the same time as Apple introduced ResearchKit itself. Unlike others, this study relied on just a specially-created iPhone app called Asthma Health, co-developed with LifeMap Solutions, which provided users with regular surveys concerning their health.
The app was downloaded almost 50,000 times in the first six months since its launch, according to results published in journal Nature Biotechnology. Of these downloads, a total of 7,593 people completed the electronic informed consent process, allowing data to be collected and analyzed by the researchers.
Out of the people completing the enrollment process, approximately 85 percent of users completed at least one survey offered by the app, which is a promising start. Ultimately, only 2,317 users from the enrolled pool filled out multiple surveys throughout the six-month study, but this was still a sufficient enough sample size for analysis.
The data was compared to the results of other asthma patient studies, with researchers noting common metrics between the sets of results, such as peak flow. Scientists were also able to correlate data from patients with external factors, including air quality, which also appeared to match existing studies.
Changes to the level of pollen and heat could also be corroborated in the study, when taking into account the user's location and other device data. For example, researchers were able to correlate increased daily asthma symptoms in Washington State with a wildfire outbreak, with the two occurring at similar times.
Yvonne Chan, Director of Digital Health and Personalized Medicine for Genomics and Multiscale Biology at Mount Sinai advises the use of iPhones and ResearchKit is "particularly suitable for studies of short duration that require rapid enrollment across diverse geographical locations, frequent data collection, and real-time feedback to participants."
"Our study demonstrates the power of mobile health tools to scale and accelerate clinical research so that we can derive the evidence needed to inform clinical practice and improve patient care."
Eric Schadt, Professor of Genomics at the Icahn School of Medicine and Founding Director of the Icahn Institute for Genomics and Multiscale Biology claims "We now have the ability to capture rich research data from thousands of individuals to better characterize 'real world' patterns of disease, wellness, and behavior. This approach provides a more comprehensive and accurate view of our patients that was not feasible in the past due to logistical limitations and prohibitive costs."
The study's results are likely to bolster ResearchKit's credibility as a framework for medical research, one that is already being used in a number of different projects. One recent study used the Apple Watch and ResearchKit to analyze seizure triggers in epilepsy sufferers, recording biometric data and prompting users to respond for reflex and awareness testing during each seizure event.
Comments
(This is not a political statement and I'm not trying to make it one, I'm simply stating my opinion about the way too many people view health care.)
I think Apple could and should do more to promote and support use of its Research Kit more heavily. Today, 80% of our health care spending (spending that is bankrupting this nation) is spent on chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, dementias and cancers that are primarily lifestyle induced diseases. Diseases that would be drastically reduced by healthy lifestyles (diet, exercise, stress reduction, etc).
Particularly with the addition of the Apple Watch, these lifestyle factors could be measured and researched into how we as a nation could best impact these diseases... The IPhone with the Apple Watch are ideally suited to measure and record lifestyle factors directly, immediately and in real time. Nothing else in the history of medicine has had this ability.
I sincerely hope that Apple will promote and support increased research into the effect that lifestyle factors have on our epidemic of chronic diseases....
*Not saying your post should be (should've been) deleted though.
Jsnively: Do you consider this calling him out personally? Honestly asking to gauge what the boundaries are. Also, just a casual observation, it seems like the forums are being slightly over-moderated. However, they are SO MUCH BETTER than before. I MUCH prefer over to under-moderated (especially when it comes to politically charged topics). So thank you.
We've let up on the moderation a lot. There were a few months where i was reading literally every single post that went up here, but that just lead to me spending way too much time on the forums and not getting other stuff done. Plus that way leads madness -- it was not good for my mental health. These days we (mostly) only act on reports, with a few exceptions. I always check-in a few times a day just to make sure nothing has gotten too out of control.
Just a question. Are you proposing that a five year old child with asthma must have some kind of grief? Because that isn't my experience.
I've also not met any adults who have been grieving who suddenly developed asthma.
I don't have time to do all your research for you, but because you never heard of something doesn't make you always right. There are many studies and books on this subject. A quick 5-second Google showed me this link where the best answer will point you the way: http://www.healthcaremagic.com/premiumquestions/Does-unresolved-grief-lead-to-asthma/80513
I've been researching this and similar issues like this myself for around 4 years. Hope you have a good rest of your day. Always be open to new information, it'll make you a far better psychiatrist. I saw a psychiatrist for around 8 years and he seems more open than the tone of your comment suggests. I wish you the best in your continuing practice. Best wishes.
As for the child, complications at birth and a million other scenarios are possible. There are many books on this subject matter and many papers. Just look into it. The evidence is plenty. And like my original example, people who work with the families of death and dying understand this plainly and talk about it.
It's simple. The emotions are trying not to come out, hence the wheezing. Our acting teachers used often mention this. Hence why acting classes often have specialised classes for tension and why actors often need therapy as they reach blocks and regular folk don't even go there. The body evolved over millions of years and self-heals, asthma medication was invented a few decades ago.
The original post most certainly should have been deleted under the category of "this makes AI look stupid on the front page" and completely derailed any possible discussion on the values of researchkit due to its ridiculous attack on the asthma research because "asthma is caused by grief" by a science denier.
FWIW, the best treatment for trauma/grief is talk therapy, primarily Supportive, TF-CBT (trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy), and for some, Psychodynamic Psychotherapy). Medications can be helpful sometimes, particularly if given shortly after the trauma/loss, or if further complications develop, like depression, or anxiety.
For adolescents or older, I HIGHLY recommend yoga. You do not have to be flexible or athletic to benefit. The primary benefit comes from the intent and practice.
I practice yoga myself as well.