F Murgia1, F Bianciardi1, T Solvoll2, I Tagliente3, F Bella4, A Carestia1, S Bella1. 1. Department of Pediatric Medicine, Cystic Fibrosis Complex Operating Unit, Special Service of Integrated Home Care in chronic Diseases. 2. Trømso Telemedicine Laboratory - Norvegian Centre for Telemedicine, Trømso University, Norway. 3. Scientific Direction, Clinical, Care & Management Innovations - Research Area, Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital - IRCCS, Rome (Italy). 4. Department of Computer Science, Automation and Management Antonio Ruberti, University "Sapienza", Rome, Italy.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: We studied the effect of Telehomecare (THC) in a group of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forced Expiratory Volume in the first second (FEV1) was monitored at home, with the aim of an early recognition of the relapses of pulmonary infections. FEV1 was monitored for 4.5 years, using THC as a tool, in addition to the standard therapeutic protocol. 16 CF patients were followed by doctors experts in the treatment of CF, over a period of 4.5 years. We compared a control group among patients seen in the past for an identical period, matching for number, age, sex, respiratory function, bacterial colonization, O2 dependency, and complications. 16 CF patients with similar characteristics of age, degree of pulmonary involvement, bacterial colonization and O2 dependency. We calculated the annual mean values of FEV1 in both groups. RESULTS: Spirometry data showed a significant improvement in annual Fev1 mean values for the THC patients as compared to the control group. DISCUSSION: The data are encouraging for a possible role of Telemedicine as a tool for domestic assistance of patients affected by chronic diseases, such as CF. However, reliable data on the long-term effectiveness of the use of THC in the treatment of CF patients is still lacking. The time has come to obtain reliable data through a multicenter collaboration study, also in order to standardize the international Telemedicine protocols.
OBJECTIVES: We studied the effect of Telehomecare (THC) in a group of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forced Expiratory Volume in the first second (FEV1) was monitored at home, with the aim of an early recognition of the relapses of pulmonary infections. FEV1 was monitored for 4.5 years, using THC as a tool, in addition to the standard therapeutic protocol. 16 CFpatients were followed by doctors experts in the treatment of CF, over a period of 4.5 years. We compared a control group among patients seen in the past for an identical period, matching for number, age, sex, respiratory function, bacterial colonization, O2 dependency, and complications. 16 CFpatients with similar characteristics of age, degree of pulmonary involvement, bacterial colonization and O2 dependency. We calculated the annual mean values of FEV1 in both groups. RESULTS: Spirometry data showed a significant improvement in annual Fev1 mean values for the THCpatients as compared to the control group. DISCUSSION: The data are encouraging for a possible role of Telemedicine as a tool for domestic assistance of patients affected by chronic diseases, such as CF. However, reliable data on the long-term effectiveness of the use of THC in the treatment of CFpatients is still lacking. The time has come to obtain reliable data through a multicenter collaboration study, also in order to standardize the international Telemedicine protocols.
Entities:
Keywords:
Cystic fibrosis; FEV1; Medical device; Spirometry; Telehomecare; Telemedicine
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