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Telehealth spirometry for children with cystic fibrosis
  1. Karla Logie,
  2. Liam Welsh,
  3. Sarath C Ranganathan
  1. Respiratory Medicine, Royal Childrens Hospital Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
  1. Correspondence to Dr Liam Welsh, Respiratory Medicine, Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; liam.welsh{at}rch.org.au

Abstract

Aim We assessed the feasibility of telehealth spirometry assessments for children with cystic fibrosis (CF) living in a regional setting.

Method Patients with acceptable computer hardware at home were provided with a SpiroUSB (Vyaire) spirometer. Spirometry was performed during ‘home admissions’ or for ongoing home monitoring in children living outside metropolitan Melbourne. At the end of the session, the family forwarded the data to the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne.

Results Twenty-two patients aged 7 to 17 years participated, with spirometry successful in 55 of 59 (93%) attempted sessions according to American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society criteria. The median distance between the subject’s home and the hospital was 238 km (range 62–537 km) which equated to a travel time saving of 5 hours and 34 min per hospital visit.

Conclusion Home-based telehealth spirometry is feasible in children with CF and can support the CF team during home-based admissions and for ongoing outpatient monitoring.

  • cystic fibrosis
  • monitoring
  • technology

https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2019-317147

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors All authors contributed equally to the preparation of this manuscript.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Patient consent for publication Not required.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

    • Data availability statement Data are available on reasonable request.