# Improving asthma control using Internet-based cognitive-behavioral treatment for insomnia

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2020 · $499,676

## Abstract

Asthma is a prevalent, chronic inflammatory disease of the airways associated with a range of adverse health
outcomes. Sleep difficulties are often viewed as a consequence of nocturnal awakenings due to nighttime asthma
symptoms, which will resolve with appropriate treatment of asthma symptoms. However, insomnia symptoms
occur even in those asthmatics without asthma-related nocturnal awakenings, thus representing comorbid
insomnia. Our prior work suggests that insomnia can negatively impact asthma control by further limiting
engagement in activities and quality of life and increasing the risk for future asthma exacerbations and need for
emergency department visits and hospitalizations. Our proposed study adopts a novel perspective on the
interaction between insomnia and asthma control: targeted treatments for insomnia could improve asthma
control and reduce the burden of disease. We propose to test the efficacy of a Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment of
Insomnia (CBT-I) intervention on sleep and asthma control in adults. We will compare two randomized
interventions: (1) a self-guided, real-world applicable, Internet version of CBT-I, Sleep Healthy Using The
Internet (SHUTi), and (2) an enhanced usual care (EUC), involving an educational video on insomnia. The aims
of this proposed study are: (1) to compare the efficacy of SHUTi vs. EUC on sleep outcomes at 3 and 6 months
after initiation of treatment in adults with asthma and comorbid insomnia, (2) to compare the efficacy of SHUTi
vs. EUC on changes in asthma control from baseline to 3 and 6 months, and (3) to determine whether changes
in sleep mediate the effects of treatment on asthma control at 3 and 6 months. Our exploratory aim is to
determine whether changes in biomarkers of airway inflammation across 3- and 6-month follow-up account for
the relationship between changes in sleep (from baseline to 3 months) and improvements in asthma control. The
use of an efficacious, low cost, Internet-based, cognitive-behavioral intervention for insomnia can provide a
treatment option that could be delivered in real-world clinical settings. Findings from our study could encourage
the inclusion of insomnia—as a comorbid condition that affects asthma control, and should be identified and
treated—into the current guidelines for the proper management of asthma.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9982093
- **Project number:** 5R01HL131587-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** Faith S Luyster
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $499,676
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-08-20 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9982093

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9982093, Improving asthma control using Internet-based cognitive-behavioral treatment for insomnia (5R01HL131587-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9982093. Licensed CC0.

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