Key clinical point: Among children with moderate or severe persistent asthma, monitoring daily inhaler use with sensors and a mobile application may improve asthma symptom control and caregiver quality of life, but the intervention also may lead to more emergency department visits and increased hospitalization rates.

Major finding: Average Asthma Control Test score increased from 19 to 22 in the intervention group, compared with an increase from 19.4 to 19.9 in the control group. Adjusted rates of emergency department visits and hospitalizations were greater in the intervention group (incidence rate ratios, 2.2 and 3.4, respectively).

Study details: A randomized, unblinded study of 252 children with asthma and their caregivers.

Disclosures: The trial was supported by the UnitedHealth Group. Dr. Gupta has received grants from the National Institutes of Health, Rho, and other organizations, and has served as a medical consultant and adviser for a variety of companies. Dr. Ramsey is supported by the NIH. Dr. Guilbert reported fees from the American Board of Pediatrics, the Pediatric Pulmonary Subboard, and some pharmaceutical companies, plus grants from the NIH, grants and personal fees from Sanofi, Regeneron, and AstraZeneca, and royalties from UpToDate.