Research Appraisals
Evidence-based critical appraisals of the latest medical research, systematically evaluated using Oxford CEBM methodology.
Showing 2 appraisals
Current allergy and asthma reports
Harnessing Machine Learning and Electronic Health Record Data to Improve Asthma Management
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The review examines the application of machine learning (ML) and large language models (LLMs) to asthma management. We sought to identify clinically relevant applications, and particularly those that harness electronic health record data. We review methodological challenges and future directions for translating these tools into meaningful improvements in asthma care. RECENT FINDINGS: ML applied to electronic health record data has been utilized across several domains of asthma management: predicting medication response to inhaled corticosteroids and biologics, improving inhaler adherence through digital inhaler systems, and predicting exacerbation risk with moderate-to-high accuracy. Tools for patient education include clinician-guided chatbots, as well as publicly available LLMs. Limitations include accuracy, hallucinations, and patient health literacy. ML and LLMs offer promising pathways towards personalized, data-driven asthma management. However, harnessing this potential will require rigorous external validation, transparent model design, equitable implementation, and adaptive clinician oversight. Collaboration among clinicians, data scientists, and policymakers will be essential to implement these tools for patient-centered asthma care.
30 June 2026
Read appraisal →The Journal of dermatological treatment
Sustained on/off-treatment disease control with abrocitinib for moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis.
PURPOSE: Achieving sustained on- and off-treatment disease control is an important therapeutic goal in atopic dermatitis (AD). This study evaluated achievement of off-treatment disease control in patients randomized to placebo following 12 weeks of abrocitinib 200 mg. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the phase 3 JADE REGIMEN study, patients with moderate-to-severe AD who achieved Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) of 0/1 (with ≥2 grades of improvement) and ≥75% improvement in Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) after 12 weeks of abrocitinib 200 mg were randomized (1:1:1) to placebo, abrocitinib 100 mg, or abrocitinib 200 mg for 40 weeks. This post-hoc analysis evaluated patients by flare status (protocol flare definition: ≥50% loss of initial EASI post-randomization response and IGA score ≥2). EASI, IGA, Peak Pruritus Numerical Rating Scale (PP-NRS), and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) were evaluated. RESULTS: There were no off-treatment flares in 21.3% of patients in the placebo arm. The no-flare group had EASI, IGA, PP-NRS, and DLQI mean scores indicating clear/mild AD at week 52 (2.9, 1.0, 2.6, and 3.5, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: After 12 weeks of abrocitinib 200 mg, some patients achieved 40 weeks of sustained off-treatment disease control, with assessments demonstrating clear/mild AD, suggesting attainment of disease remission. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03627767.
22 May 2026
Read appraisal →