Most CF Patients Would Like to Monitor Their Lung Function at Home, Survey Shows

Almost everyone with cystic fibrosis or pulmonary fibrosis would like to have a remote monitoring device that allows them to keep tabs on their lung function at home, online surveys of the two patient groups indicate.

PMD Healthcare said it conducted the surveys to learn CF and PF patients’ views on lung function monitoring devices, one of which it manufactures. It also wanted to know patients’ views on other products they would like to see developed, additional information they need on their conditions, and support services they need.

In addition to the surveys, the company created patient and caregiver advisory boards for CF and PF to better address the care and living challenges these patients face.

“We look forward to working together with the advisors to learn about the diseases and to help patients live better and more fulfilling lives,” Cari-anne Keller, manager of customer care at PMD Healthcare, said in a press release.

Some of the key findings in the two surveys:

• Ninety-three percent of CF patients and 96 percent of PF patients would like to be able to monitor their lung function at home between doctor’s office visits;
• Ninety-six percent of CF and PF patients would like to be able to use a remote monitoring device such as a spirometer to measure their lung function at home;
• Ninety-six percent of patients said having the ability to monitor their lung function at home was “very important” to them;
• One hundred percent of PF patients and 78 percent of CF patients said their medical care team had never discussed the idea of them using a spirometer in their care; and
• Most patients said they felt comfortable asking their doctor about the potential use of a remote monitoring device at home.

Patients see several benefits in monitoring their lung function at home, the surveys showed. One was the possibility of identifying disease flare-ups or exacerbations sooner. Another was that home monitoring could ease their anxiety. A third benefit was that it would help them learn more about their lung function. And a fourth was that it would allow them to handle their care on their own terms.

PMD specializes in digital health, medical devices and chronic care management. It developed a widely used device known as the Spiro PD spirometer for monitoring CF patients’ lung function remotely. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved it in 2011 as the American market’s first personal spirometer.

Since its approval, Spiro PD has become the standard for remote monitoring of lung function in people with CF or those who have had a lung transplant.

A PMD study in 2017 concluded that children who used Spiro PD at home reported better lung function.

PMD is developing additional remote monitoring products, including its second-generation spirometer, Spiro PD 2.0.