Is daily home spirometry feasible in remote monitoring of interstitial lung disease?

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Access to in-clinic spirometry for patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) has been restricted by the COVID19 pandemic. Remote monitoring of patient-recorded at-home spirometry & pulse oximetry offers an alternative approach to traditional hospital-based monitoring. Objective(s) To assess the feasibility of a remote monitoring programme (with spirometry & pulse oximetry) delivered within ILD clinical care settings for a 3-month period through assessment of adherence to study measurements. Method(s) In this prospective, single-arm, observational study (NCT04850521), patients were asked to record 1 spirometry and pulse oximetry measurement per day for 91 days, using a digital health application (patientMpowerTM) & Bluetooth-linked devices. Patient-recorded data could be viewed in real time by their clinical teams via a secure, password-restricted web-based portal. Health-related quality of life and patient experience were also assessed. Result(s) 51 ILD patients enrolled and provided >=1 spirometry reading. Baseline demographics 35M/16F;29 idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)/22 non-IPF ILD;age 67+/-12Y;in-clinic FVC 84+/-20% predicted;TLCO 54+/-19% predicted (mean+/-SD);median modified ILD GAP score 3. Patients recorded spirometry on median 92% of days & pulse oximetry on median 93% of days. To date, 30 patients have completed follow-up. 26/30 patients recorded spirometry and pulse oximetry >=3 days/week & >=70% of days. Conclusion(s) In this study, daily recording of home spirometry & pulse oximetry over 3 months appeared feasible. Further research is needed to understand how remote monitoring is best used within ILD clinical services. .