RecruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Remote Monitoring of Asthma in Children and Young People

This study aims to find out if combining regular health records with information gathered remotely from children and young people (aged 5-17) can accurately predict when they might have an asthma attack. Asthma attacks can be very serious, leading to hospital stays or even worse outcomes, and they often develop over several weeks. If we can predict them better, we hope to prevent them. The study will look at routine health data for all children and young people with asthma. A smaller group with higher-risk asthma will be asked to take part in a more detailed study, sharing extra information from home. The main goal is to see if this new way of monitoring can reduce asthma attacks compared to previous years, helping young people stay healthier and in school.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

University of Edinburgh

Enrolment target

900

Start

20 Nov 2025

Estimated completion

01 Mar 2027

Asthma Childhood Asthma Attack Remote Monitoring Risk Assessment Machine Learning

What is this study about?

Asthma is a common long-term condition in the UK, especially for children and young people. Many things can trigger an asthma attack, like infections (such as colds), pollen, or even big changes in a child’s life. These attacks can be very serious, sometimes leading to hospital stays, missing school, and a lot of worry for families. Sadly, in rare cases, they can be life-threatening.

We know that asthma attacks often don't happen suddenly. Instead, they can slowly build up over a few weeks as a child's asthma control gets worse. If we could predict these attacks earlier, doctors and families might be able to step in and prevent them. This study is exploring a new way to do just that.

Researchers want to see if they can use information already collected by the NHS, alongside extra health data gathered from home, to create a system that can accurately spot when a child is at higher risk of an asthma attack. The hope is that this new system will help reduce the number of asthma attacks children and young people experience, leading to better health and fewer disruptions to their lives.

Key takeaways

The study aims to predict asthma attacks in children and young people.
It uses existing health records and extra data collected from home.
The goal is to reduce asthma attacks for young people aged 5-17.
It doesn't involve new medicines or treatments.
Participation could help improve future asthma care for many.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking for children and young people between the ages of 5 and 17 who have been diagnosed with asthma. This includes those whose medical records show they have asthma or are suspected of having asthma, or who have been given an inhaler containing a specific type of medicine (called an inhaled corticosteroid) in the last two years.

However, some children and young people will not be able to join. This includes those who have a different lung condition that also requires an inhaled steroid, but isn't asthma. It also excludes those with specific conditions like cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, or primary ciliary dyskinesia.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Is your child aged between 5 and 17 years old?
Has your child been diagnosed with asthma, or is it suspected?
Has your child been prescribed an inhaled steroid in the last two years?
Does your child NOT have cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, or primary ciliary dyskinesia?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

The study involves two main parts. Everyone with asthma in the age group will have their routine healthcare data monitored. This means researchers will look at information already collected about your child's health from their NHS records.

For a smaller group of young people who have asthma that's considered higher risk, there will be an invitation to take part in a more detailed study. This would involve sharing extra health information from home, gathered remotely. The study aims to see if using this new monitoring system reduces asthma attacks compared to past rates. The total duration of participation for those in the detailed study is not specified, but it will likely involve ongoing data collection.

Potential risks and benefits

Potential benefits of taking part could include contributing to a system that might one day help predict and prevent asthma attacks, leading to better health for children and young people with asthma. There are no direct medical risks from participating in the data monitoring parts of the study. For those sharing remote data, the risks are generally minimal, related mainly to the collection of personal health information, which will be handled securely. You would always have the right to withdraw from the study at any time without it affecting your child’s medical care.

Locations (1)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

NHS Lothian
Verified postcode
Edinburgh, United Kingdom· Recruiting

Common questions

What is 'remote monitoring'?

Remote monitoring means collecting health information from a distance, perhaps through special devices or apps your child uses at home, rather than always at a doctor's visit.

Will my child's regular doctors still look after them?

Yes, your child's usual medical care from their doctors and nurses will continue as normal. This study is about helping improve future care, not replacing current treatments.

Is my child actually getting a new treatment in this study?

No, this study isn't testing a new medicine or treatment. It's looking at a new way to understand and predict asthma attacks using data.

What kind of health data will be looked at?

Researchers will look at information from your child's routine healthcare records. If your child is in the detailed study, they might also collect more specific health data from home.

How will my child's personal information be kept safe?

All personal health information collected for this study will be kept private and secure, following strict rules to protect your child's identity.

How to find out more

kenneth a macleod, MbChB, PhD

Kenneth.Macleod3@nhs.scot +441313120453 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.