Chronic respiratory conditions affect the airways and other structures in the lungs. Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are among the most common chronic respiratory diseases. In this article, we explore chronic respiratory conditions and provide research into the benefits of remote patient monitoring (RPM) for these respiratory conditions.
Chronic Respiratory Conditions: Asthma and Remote Patient Monitoring Research
Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition that affects the airways and lungs. Due to airway narrowing, patients with asthma experience varying severity and frequency of recurrent attacks of breathlessness and wheezing. In asthma, airway obstruction can be reversible with inhaled medicines.
A new literature review published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology examined the application of remote patient monitoring in managing asthma and allergies. The review examined pediatric asthma patients enrolled in telemonitoring programs in 2020. It offers insights into improving patient outcomes, decreasing hospital visits, and increasing RPM adherence.
Notably, remote patient monitoring detected physiological abnormalities in 18.6% of patients. Early detection led to prescription adjustments, decreased episodes of shortness of breath, reduced need for rescue inhalers, and improved symptom management. Additionally, a 99.1% patient adherence to RPM was observed. Those who opted out discontinued the did so due to symptom improvement or cost.
Remote Peak Flow Meter Use in Chronic Respiratory Conditions
Patient wellness and episode and illness prevention are major concerns for chronic respiratory disease patients. Traditional peak flow meters are widely used in remote respiratory monitoring to measure peak expiratory flow rate (PEF), a key indicator of lung function in asthma patients. However, these connected health devices require manual recording and tracking of readings, and they are often only used by a patient during an office visit.
Remote patient monitoring for chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma includes using a remote peak flow meter. A remote peak flow meter offers patients and clinicians a helpful tool for making informed therapeutic decisions. Remote peak flow Monitoring aids in recognizing triggers that exacerbate symptoms, evaluating the effectiveness of treatment plans, determining medication adjustments, and assessing the need for emergency care.
Furthermore, peak flow meters excel at identifying airway constriction well in advance of severe symptoms, sometimes days prior. Remote peak flow monitoring with a digital peak flow meter fosters heightened awareness and enables early intervention across the conditions listed below.
Asthma
Research shows the following reported benefits of using a remote peak flow meter for asthma management.
- Increased awareness of disease status
- Decreased asthma episodes
- Decreased acute care visits
- Decreased missed school days
COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) refers to diseases causing airflow blockage and breathing problems. This includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. PEF is commonly used to assess lung function and health status in COPD patients. Research shows the following reported benefits of using at-home peak flow meters in COPD.
- Decreased frequency and magnitude
- of exacerbation symptoms
- Decreased dyspnea
- Improved lung function
Covid-19
COVID-19 puts those with chronic respiratory conditions at greater risk of complications. Individuals who experience Long COVID have signs and symptoms that continue following acute COVID-19 infection. Research shows that in patients with COVID-19, peak flow monitoring contributed to increased feelings of safety and enabled patients to recover in their home environment.
Chronic Respiratory Conditions and Airway Rehabilitation
Peak flow meters can also track improvement in expiratory muscle strength training (EMST) and cough skill training (CST). EMST and CST are two common treatment approaches to improve coughing ability and can be tracked using a peak flow meter. The ability to cough is an important airway defense mechanism to remove mucus and other potential hazards from the airways.
Dysfunction in the ability to cough greatly increases the risk of aspiration pneumonia and is common in neurodegenerative movement disorders. For example, Parkinson’s disease (PD), multiple sclerosis (MS), Huntington’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS.) In addition, tracking airway rehabilitation in neurogenerative movement disorders improves maximum expiratory pressure and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR).
Understanding Chronic Respiratory Conditions and RPM
Remote patient monitoring shows promise for improving outcomes across a range of chronic respiratory conditions like asthma, COPD, and COVID-19. Remote peak flow meters enable patients and providers to track lung function better and detect early exacerbation signs. This allows for timely interventions like medication adjustments to prevent severe attacks and hospitalizations.
Additionally, remote monitoring fosters patient engagement and adherence. Overall, the research highlights many benefits of incorporating remote peak flow monitoring as standard practice in managing chronic respiratory illness. Transitioning from traditional to connected peak flow meters unlocks new potential in respiratory telehealth.
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