Introduction: Data from mHealth apps can provide valuable information on rhinitis control and treatment patterns. However, in MASK-air ®, these data have only been analyzed cross-sectionally, without considering the changes of symptoms over time. We analyzed data from MASK-air ® longitudinally, clustering weeks according to reported rhinitis symptoms. Methods: We analyzed MASK-air ® data, assessing the weeks fo...
Background Validated questionnaires are used to assess asthma control over the past 1–4 weeks from reporting. However, they do not adequately capture asthma control in patients with fluctuating symptoms. Using the Mobile Airways Sentinel Network for airway diseases (MASK-air) app, we developed and validated an electronic daily asthma control score (e-DASTHMA). Methods We used MASK-air data (freely available to ...
MASK-air® , a validated mHealth app (Medical Device regulation Class IIa) has enabled large observational implementation studies in over 58,000 people with allergic rhinitis and/or asthma. It can help to address unmet patient needs in rhinitis and asthma care. MASK-air® is a Good Practice of DG Santé on digitally-enabled, patient-centred care. It is also a candidate Good Practice of OECD (Organisation for Econo...
Biomarkers for the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of patients with rhinitis and/or asthma are urgently needed. Although some biologic biomarkers exist in specialist care for asthma, they cannot be largely used in primary care. There are no validated biomarkers in rhinitis or allergen immunotherapy (AIT) that can be used in clinical practice. The digital transformation of health and health care (including mH...
Background: Asthma is one of the most common chronic respiratory diseases and one of the most frequent causes of hospital care. Objectives: To describe the clinical characteristics of asthma and factors associated with its control. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Military Hospital in Luanda, from April 2018 to March 2019. Data collection was performed using questionnaires on asthma symptom...
Background: There is considerable research interest in the role of helminth infections in the development of allergic diseases. However, findings from previous studies are mixed. Existing systematic reviews of these studies are outdated. We performed a systematic review of the global literature on the association between helminth infections and development and clinical outcomes of allergic diseases. Methods: We...
Epidemiological studies have shown conflicting findings on the relationship between asthma, atopy, and intestinal helminth infections. There are no such studies from Angola; therefore, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between asthma, allergic diseases, atopy, and intestinal helminth infection in Angolan schoolchildren. We performed a cross-sectional study of schoolchildren between September and November 20...
Introduction and Objectives: In Africa, few studies of sensitization profiles have been performed in children or adolescents and, in Angola, there are none. The objectives of the present study were to assess the sensitization profile of Angolan schoolchildren and to determine the relationship between that pattern, sociodemographic factors, asthma, and other allergic diseases. Materials and Methods: Cross-sectio...
Background: Epidemiological studies conducted in several countries worldwide and in some African countries have shown that there is controversy in the relationship between asthma, atopy, and helminthic infection. The aim of this study was to fully evaluate such a relationship in children living in areas of high and moderate helminthic prevalence. Method: Cross-sectional study using the methodology of the Intern...