Awakening the science: sleep remote sensor use predicts asthma exacerbations

Published online April 10, 2025

Asthma affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide and often leads to poor sleep, emergency room visits, and a reduced quality of life. Identifying asthma flare-ups early could help prevent hospitalization or other serious health issues and reduce the need for medications like steroids. This study explored whether a common household device, the Google Nest Hub, could be used to track breathing and movement during sleep to help predict asthma worsening before symptoms become severe.

In this paper by Rhoads et al, published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice, researchers conducted a 90-day observational study involving 38 adults with severe asthma. Participants placed a Google Nest Hub, which contains a radar sensor and microphone, by their bedside. This device collected nighttime data such as respiratory rate, coughing, sleep movement, and sleep duration. Participants also reported lung function and asthma symptoms using home tools and questionnaires. The study aimed to determine whether the device's data could be used to create algorithms that predict asthma exacerbations before symptoms are noticed by the patient.

The use of the Google Nest device showed promising results. The algorithm predicted asthma exacerbations one day in advance with 67% sensitivity and 85% specificity, meaning it correctly identified many upcoming episodes while minimizing false alarms. Two-day predictions were slightly less accurate but still useful. Although predictions of lung function and symptom scores were less consistent, the overall findings suggest that home smart devices may one day help people manage asthma more proactively—potentially preventing emergency visits and reducing reliance on oral corticosteroids. Larger and longer-term studies are needed to confirm these early results and to assess whether this technology can work across populations that are more diverse.

The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice is an official journal of the AAAAI, focusing on practical information for the practicing clinician.

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