A recent study by Helmholtz Munich and the University of Augsburg shows: the digital health application PollDi significantly improves the well-being of people with grass pollen allergies. The full version of the app, which includes forecasting features and a symptom diary, proved especially effective.
Digital solutions are playing an increasingly important role in healthcare – especially in managing chronic conditions like hay fever. A study conducted by Helmholtz Munich in collaboration with the University of Augsburg has now confirmed the tangible benefits of the PollDi app for allergy sufferers. Developed at the Institute of Environmental Medicine at Helmholtz Munich and the University of Augsburg, the app helps people with grass pollen allergies better understand and manage their symptoms.
Between May and August 2023, a total of 167 individuals in Augsburg participated in the study, coordinated by the Institute for Environmental Medicine and Integrative Health at the University of Augsburg’s Faculty of Medicine. Participants were divided into three groups, each using a version of the app with varying functionality – from a basic version with interactive information content to a full version that included a symptom diary and real-time pollen and air pollution forecasts.
The results: All groups reported an improved quality of life. However, the effects were particularly pronounced among users of the full-featured version – they experienced fewer symptoms, felt less restricted in daily life, and used their medication more consistently. This may suggest better adherence to medical recommendations.
A central component of the study was the use of machine learning to predict allergic symptoms. By combining user input and environmental data, the app was able to accurately forecast daily nasal and eye symptoms. “This shows the potential of digital tools when we feed them with high-quality data,” emphasized Dr. Stefanie Gilles, head of the Environmental Immunology research group at Helmholtz Munich. She played a key role in developing the app, along with her PhD students Caroline Holzmann and Johannes Karg.
The study highlights the importance of high-quality digital health applications, particularly in the context of chronic diseases. “Our study shows that an app developed with a strong focus on quality and tailored to users’ needs truly helps people with hay fever take more informed and autonomous control of their symptoms, manage their pollen exposure and medication use, and ultimately improve their quality of life,” said Prof. Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann, Director of the Institute of Environmental Medicine at Helmholtz Munich and Professor at the University of Augsburg. According to her, the key to success lies in the combination of personal symptom tracking, well-founded information, and reliable pollen forecasting.
PollDi uses a specially developed prediction model trained on six years of real-time environmental data from Augsburg, including weather conditions. In addition to a validated symptom diary, interactive elements such as quizzes and fun facts enhance the user experience.
The findings not only offer new insights for allergy research but also provide valuable input for the ongoing development of evidence-based digital health solutions that can offer real support in patients’ daily lives.