Home Monitoring of Cystic Fibrosis
Lechtzin N, Mayer-Hamblett N, West NE, et al. Home monitoring of patients with cystic fibrosis to identify and treat acute pulmonary exacerbations. eICE study results. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2017;196:1144–51.
Applications for Clinical Practice
CF patients suffer from frequent pulmonary exacerbations and close monitoring and appropriate treatment is necessary to prevent progressive decline of lung function. This study has shown no benefit of electronic home monitoring in CF patients based on symptoms and spirometry over usual care. However, this negative outcome may be due to the limitation of the current definition of pulmonary exacerbation and lack of a consensus management algorithm. Optimizing the definition of pulmonary exacerbation and protocoling management based on severity may improve future evaluations of electronic home monitoring. Electronic home monitoring may help identify patients requiring evaluation; however, clinicians should continue to manage CF patients with conventional tools including regular follow-up visits, thorough history taking, and appropriate use of antibiotics based on their clinical acumen.
—Minkyung Kwon, MD, Joel Roberson, MD, Drew Willey, MD, and Neal Patel, MD (Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL, except for Dr. Roberson, of Oakland University/ Beaumont Health, Royal Oak, MI)
