INNOVATIVE SYMPTOMS ASSESSMENT APPROACH USING EHEALTH TECHNOLOGIES IN PATIENTS WITH OLEA EUROPAEA POLLEN ALLERGY USING AN ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE CHAMBER.

Abstract

Introduction: what is the context and aim of the study? The prevalence of Olea europaea (Olea) pollinosis in large areas of southern Europe is very relevant. This study introduces and assesses a novel approach using eHealth technologies within an environmental exposure chamber (EEC) to evaluate Olea pollen allergy at Ramón y Cajal University Hospital (RyCUH) in Madrid. The primary goal was to clinically validate the safety and diagnostic performance of Olea pollen exposure in an EEC, representing the first reported use of olive pollen in this setting.

Methods: what were the principal methods used? A new EEC was developed at RyCUH, ensuring reproducible pollen distribution and stable environmental conditions. The study recruited 20 volunteers: 15 Olea pollen-allergic individuals and 5 controls. REDCap, an electronic data capture tool, was used to collect patient-reported symptom scores, asthma-related data, and clinical observations before, during, and after EEC exposure. PowerBI software facilitated real-time monitoring of clinical and technical parameters to ensure patient safety.

Results: What are the most important findings? The results indicated that 12 of the 15 allergic participants (80%) experienced positive reactions during the Olea pollen challenge, primarily rhinitis and conjunctivitis, with a few developing mild asthma symptoms. No symptoms were observed in the control group, confirming specificity. The use of PowerBI enabled immediate assessment of symptom severity, and all reactions were promptly managed.

Conclusions: What is the most important conclusion drawn, and what is the clinical or research relevance of the results? In conclusion, this study presents the first Olea pollen challenge in an EEC, demonstrating it to be a safe and effective method for evaluating allergic patients. The integration of REDCap and PowerBI for the in an EEC, represents a significant advancement, establishing a new precision medicine tool for symptom assessment and safety monitoring in Olea pollen allergy and contributing to the digital transformation of allergology.