Most PF, CF Patients Want to Monitor Lung Function at Home, PMD Survey Finds

A vast majority of pulmonary fibrosis (PF) and cystic fibrosis (CF) patients would like to have the ability to monitor their lung function at home, top-line results from PMD Healthcare’s two 2018 online patient surveys show.

PMD reported that most of the PF (96 percent) and CF (93 percent) patients indicated their will to check lung function at home between visits with their doctor.

Data also showed that 96 percent of both patient groups would like to use a remote monitoring device (such as a spirometer) to measure pulmonary function at home. The same percentage said that being able to check lung function at home was very important to them.

Among the benefits brought by home monitoring of lung function, the patients mentioned the potential for earlier identification of disease flare-ups, or exacerbations; increased peace of mind and lessened anxiety associated with pulmonary function tests conducted in the clinic; education about patients’ lung function; and the ability to handle care on their own terms.

Also, all PF patients surveyed, and 78 percent of CF patients, reported that their clinical care team had never discussed the use of a personal spirometer with them. Most respondents observed, however, they would feel comfortable asking their doctor about the home use of a remote monitoring device.

The surveys intended to better understand patients’ opinions on ways to monitor their lung function, and also to obtain their feedback on needs related to education, product development, and support services.

“To that end, we have just launched our CF and PF Advisory Boards and 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, PMD Healthcare’s manager of Customer Care, said in a press release.

The advisory boards are composed of patients and caregivers, and aim to gather information and opinions to improve the assessment of patients’ needs, challenges, and daily care management.

PMD focuses on medical devices, digital health, and chronic care management. The company developed the first personal spirometer, Spiro PD, to enable remote monitoring of lung function. The device was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2011. A second-generation spirometer, Spiro PD 2.0, was released in 2017.