Introduction 

Home-based spirometry is a convenient method for repeated monitoring of lung function and may enable early detection of COPD exacerbation. However, understanding quality and compliance with domiciliary spirometry remain essential for successful implementation.

Objective

Compliance to daily spirometry and the quality of unsupervised tests utilising remote monitoring approach over six months.

Methods

Data were analysed from a prospective cohort study called ?Home Remote Assessment of Lung Disease and Impact on Physical and Mental Health (RALPMH). Participants received a NuvoAir AirNext, Bluetooth handheld spirometer and downloaded the mobile application. Participants received face-to-face and/or virtual training on how to perform spirometry properly. They received daily alerts from the RADAR-Base aRMT app to record one session of three unsupervised tests daily. The total duration of the protocol was 180 days.

Results

Twenty patients with COPD were recruited for the study, age 67.8±9.6 years, and 11 (55%) were male. The average daily rate was calculated by the number of recorded sessions divided by the number of days enrolled. The compliance average of one session per day was 59%, and at least one session per week was 84%. (Figure 1)

Participants completed a total of 2131 (59%) unsupervised sessions; 1877 (88%) were of satisfactory quality (grades A-E) according to ATS grading criteria. The majority were grade A, 362 (17%) and B, 878 (41%). (Figure 2)

Conclusion

Our results confirm acceptable quality and compliance with unsupervised spirometry in patients with COPD. Further work is required to determine if this provides a meaningful assessment to detect lung function change in patients with COPD.