patientMpower (pMp) has joined forces with Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust to conduct a study to determine the impact of pMp on patients diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis (PF). Assessment of lung function, oxygen saturation and symptoms (e.g. breathlessness, impact on quality of life) is important in monitoring pulmonary fibrosis (PF). The patientMpower electronic health journal is a mobile application which enables patients to record objective [e.g. Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), oxygen saturation, step count] and subjective (e.g. breathlessness, quality of life) information on their long-term respiratory health in a real-world setting. pMp is a patient support tool (patients can have more informed discussions with their specialist healthcare providers; information can be shared with family members), research tool (captures health outcomes data provided by patients in a natural real-world setting in real time) and potentially a digital therapeutic (automated early prediction of exacerbation).
The method used in this study was that patients downloaded pMp directly from app stores. Spirometry data were collected by a Bluetooth-paired MIR Spirobank Smart spirometer (www.spirometry.com). Data collected via pMp included: FVC (seated), breathlessness [modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) score], step count, medication adherence, oxygen saturation, oxygen flow-rate, weight, blood pressure, symptoms and impact of idiopathic PF (IPF) on daily life [patient-reported outcome measure (PROM)]. If patients gave permission for geolocation, air quality data was provided to them in real time.
246 patients with PF used pMp and 172 (70%) recorded home spirometry. The 172 patients recording home spirometry also recorded pulse oximetry (78 patients), breathlessness (107), PROM (42), weight (72), blood pressure (40), symptoms (59), steps/day (79) and medication adherence (59). 127 patients provided information on their PF medication: nintedanib (49), pirfenidone (36) & neither (42).
We would like to thank all of the people who have generously contributed data to this project and the Irish Lung Fibrosis Association and PF Warriors for their help and guidance in designing and evaluating the patientMpower application. The conclusions from this study show that pMp with associated Bluetooth-connected devices (e.g. spirometer, pulse oximeter) offers an acceptable and accessible approach to the collection of patient-reported objective and subjective data in supporting self-management and patient care and in long-term real-world studies in PF.
