DOHA: Al Ahli Hospital has offered a special mobile app for asthma patients to help monitor their condition.
The MY Asthma MD app could be downloaded on a smart- phone for accurate monitoring of asthma.
The calculation of the app is based on personal information such as age, height and gender. Users may customise information by entering their highest personal peak flow measurements.
The app connected with a peak flow meter is an inexpensive, portable, handheld device for those with asthma to measure how well air moves out of their lungs. Measuring the peak flow using the meter is an important part of managing asthma symptoms and preventing an attack.
Dr Hassan Sawaf, Consultant Pulmonologist and Intensivist, said, “The app is important to know that a patient’s peak flow meter only measures the amount of airflow out of the large airways of the lungs. Changes in airflow caused by small airways (which also occur with asthma) will not be detected by a peak flow meter. Early warning signs, however, may be present. It is important for you to also be aware of your symptoms and early warning signs to best manage your asthma.
“It will use the chart — the highest of your three readings — into the app. Also list any possible triggers and symptoms you may have been experiencing as well the medication you will be taking,” he added.
The app is helpful if you or your child have moderate to severe asthma and require daily medications. Most children aged six and above should be able to use a peak flow meter with good results. People with moderate to severe asthma should download the app and have a peak flow meter at home.
“Peak flow is only one parameter for tracking asthma. Users want to track medications, symptoms, triggers and add notes. Including a [wireless] connection would require users to fiddle with connecting and syncing an electronic peak flow meter with the app, while still having to manually enter medication and other parameters,” said Dr Sawaf.
“We realised that we didn’t want to provide connectivity just to create something that is cool, but not have real practical value to most users,” he added.
With the harsh weather conditions prevailing in the Middle East, the app could be more helpful for patients to control and prevent an asthma attack.
Dr Abdul Azim Abdul Wahab Hussain, Medical Director, Al Ahli Hospital, said, “Many people suffer from asthma due to the weather conditions — with dust and heat in Qatar and the region. The app will be very useful for them to control and prevent asthma attacks.”
The app includes integrated medication reminders that change depending on the user’s prescription. It also tracks adherence so users can share information with their physician through MyAsthmaMD portal. Families and caregivers of the patient can log in to the portal if they also want to track the user’s progress.
The Peninsula
