MONICA
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Monitoring Nocturnal Cardiorespiratory Parameters in Severe Uncontrolled Asthma: An Observational Pilot Study of Patients Initiating Monoclonal Antibody Treatment
IRAS ID
366633
Contact name
Rebecca Nightingale
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
People with severe, uncontrolled asthma often experience symptoms at night, such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath, which can disrupt sleep and reduce quality of life. These night-time symptoms are caused by natural changes during sleep, including airway narrowing and shifts in hormones and immune activity that increase inflammation. Currently, night-time asthma symptoms are mainly assessed using questionnaires, which rely on patient recall and provide limited information about what is happening in the body during sleep.
Monoclonal antibody (biological) treatments have been shown to improve asthma control and reduce night-time symptoms. However, most evidence is based on patient-reported outcomes rather than objective measurements. There is a need for better understanding of how breathing and heart-related processes change overnight in people with severe asthma, and how these changes respond to biological treatments.
This observational pilot study aims to explore the use of existing sleep-monitoring technology to objectively measure night-time breathing and heart function in adults with severe, uncontrolled asthma who are starting a monoclonal antibody treatment. Participants will wear a small, finger-based device called the SleepImage Ring at home for seven nights before starting treatment, and again at 4 and 12 months. The device records oxygen levels, breathing patterns, heart rate variability, and movement during sleep.
Participants will also attend routine clinic visits where asthma control and quality of life will be assessed using standard questionnaires. Information on lifestyle factors, such as caffeine, alcohol, smoking, and medications, will be collected to help interpret the results.
This study does not test a new drug or device and does not alter patient care. Its aim is to understand whether changes in night-time heart and breathing measurements are linked to improved asthma control, potentially improving future asthma monitoring beyond questionnaires alone.
REC name
West of Scotland REC 4
REC reference
26/WS/0051
Date of REC Opinion
20 Apr 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion