Home Spirometry Data Is Enhanced by Remote Physiologist Support
A recent abstract published by NuvoAir and presented at ATRP 2023 shows that spirometry data recorded by patients at home is enhanced when they are supported by remote physiologists.
Published on 2023-04-27
New data from NuvoAir shows that home assessment programs for respiratory diseases that include home spirometry and remote physiologist support can be used to effectively confirm the diagnosis and optimize treatment.
On March 17th, 2023, NuvoAir presented a research study entitled, “Quality and adherence of home spirometry in a remote respiratory physiologist-led assessment” at the Association for Respiratory Technology and Physiology (ARTP) Annual Conference in Brighton. The poster outlined results from a retrospective analysis of NuvoAir’s 12-week Asthma Assessment Service in the UK and its impacts on the accurate diagnosis, management, and treatment of respiratory disease.
Ensuring treatment adherence and data quality
Spirometry is commonly used to diagnose and optimise therapy for respiratory diseases like asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, its efficacy as a clinical tool is impacted by a variety of factors, including limited access to spirometry, inadequate or infrequent longitudinal data, and limited clinical capacity to interpret and act on spirometry results.
Home spirometry offers people living with uncontrolled and/or severe asthma the ability to track their lung function over time and provides clinicians with key insights to provide optimal support. Published data suggests that there is a high degree of variability in adherence to weekly spirometry sessions with home monitoring. With limited access to lab-based and home spirometry, many patients can fall through the cracks, resulting in less-than-optimal treatment outcomes. Others may not be able to receive an accurate diagnosis altogether, especially if their lab spirometry data when clinically stable is inconclusive.
The power of home spirometry and remote support
Wirral Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust partnered with NuvoAir to assess if NuvoAir’s easy-to-use monitoring devices and virtual physiologist support could improve the effectiveness of at-home spirometry, as well as the quality of the data collected. The 12-week per-patient assessment explored how a group of 35 individuals with severe asthma in the UK fared while enrolled in NuvoAir's Asthma Service. The abstract was co-authored by Megan Robshaw, Emma Raywood, Helen Parrott, Charmaine Amin, and Katie Collins.
The group of patients performed home spirometry four times per week, and any time they were symptomatic, using NuvoAir’s Bluetooth-enabled spirometer and mobile app. They received coaching and support from NuvoAir respiratory physiologists through video and phone calls. The results of the analysis found that NuvoAir’s Asthma Service enhanced patient engagement and data quality. Findings included:
- Median patient engagement of 97%
- 77% of spirometry sessions were quality assured
- 86% reported NuvoAir helped them detect changes in their lung health
Additionally, the 12 weeks of home assessment enabled 67% of participants to confirm an accurate diagnosis of asthma, 40% to have their therapy optimized and 22% to be referred for an alternative diagnosis (e.g. dysfunctional breathing or inducible laryngeal obstruction). The data suggest that remote consultations and support by clinical experts can improve adherence, engagement, and data quality for individuals with respiratory conditions. Which can have a positive impact on outcomes and costs down the line.
“People with asthma deserve to be better understood, especially as there can be so much variation between doctor visits. The study demonstrates that a home assessment of asthma provides a much-needed opportunity to accelerate data-driven diagnosis and treatment decisions.”
Helen Parrott, Director of Clinical Operations, NuvoAir
Learn more about NuvoAir in the UK
Since 2017, NuvoAir has partnered with NHS Trusts to support people living with respiratory conditions including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis (CF). The NuvoAir Asthma Service, launched in 2022, utilizes our team of respiratory physiologists and proprietary digital technology to facilitate faster and more informed clinician decision-making across the continuum of care—from initial assessment and diagnosis support for people with uncontrolled symptoms to ongoing monitoring of those with severe asthma on biologic therapies. To learn more about NuvoAir, contact us today.
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