How AI is advancing asthma management? Insights into economic and clinical aspects

Asthma, an increasingly prevalent chronic respiratory condition, incurs significant economic costs worldwide. Artificial Intelligence (AI), particularly Machine Learning (ML), has been widely recognized as transformative when applied to asthma care. This commentary investigates how AI and ML may improve clinical outcomes while alleviating some of the costs associated with asthma care. AI's powerful analytical abilities could usher in an unprecedented era of preventive measures, particularly by identifying at-risk populations and anticipating environmental triggers. ML shows promise for enhancing real-time monitoring, early detection, and tailored treatment strategies in paediatric asthma, potentially reducing hospitalizations and emergency care costs. Emerging AI-powered wearable technologies are catalysing a revolutionary shift in patient monitoring, providing proactive interventions. Although optimistic, this commentary highlights a gap in empirical studies evaluating the cost-effectiveness of AI in asthma care and stresses the need for larger datasets to accurately represent the economic benefits of AI solutions. Additionally, this paper emphasizes the ethical considerations surrounding data privacy and algorithmic bias, which are vital for the successful and equitable integration of AI into healthcare settings. This editorial underscores the urgent necessity of conducting thorough analyses to assess all economic implications, facilitate optimized resource allocation, and foster a nuanced understanding of AI/ML technologies in asthma management that may reduce costs to healthcare systems.