ABSTRACT
Introduction: Cystic Fibrosis (CF) centers globally increased the number of telehealth clinics during the Covid-19 pandemic and developed processes utilizing telemedicine to replace a standard clinic visit. Whether these new approaches provide an opportunity to improve patients' clinical condition need further investigations. Aims and objectives: To assess the short-term clinical impact of using the NuvoAir Home platform to monitor children and adolescents with CF at home for six months as part of a virtual model of care. Method(s): The NuvoAir Home platform consists of a smartphone application, Bluetooth spirometer and clinician portal. Patients and/or parents were trained to use the platform and asked to do home spirometry monthly. Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire-Revised (CFQ-R) was collected at the time of study entry and after six months. We calculated the percentage of change between "pre" and "post" conditions of the variables. Result(s): Sixteen children and adolescent CF patients from Federico II Hospital, Naples, Italy (9 females;mean age 16.3+/-0.9;5 homozygous for delta F508;FEV1 79.5+/-26.2 % predicted;FVC 91.6+/-23.6 % predicted;BMI 21.5+/-3.8) were recruited from June 2021. All patients had completed six months follow-up. CFQ-R revealed higher scores indicating a higher patient-reported quality of life with regard to "health perception" + 3%, "social limitations" + 11%, "digestive symptoms" + 6%. We observed a 2 % improvement from baseline in FEV1 % predicted. There was no difference in pulmonary exacerbation versus the previous year. No changes of medical treatment were reported during that time. Conclusion(s): Digital technology for home monitoring in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis led to improved quality of life and lung function.