OBJECTIVES: To describe a newly developed telespirometry system consisting
of a portable spirometer that transmits the lung ventilatory values by
telephone from the patient's home to a remote monitoring center and to
assess the ability of the telespirometry system to detect early signs
of asthmatic deterioration. METHODS: Thirty-nine patients with moderate
to severe asthma were monitored with the telespirometry system. The lung
function testing and transmission of the spirometric data by telephone
from the patient's home to a remote monitoring center were performed according
to the patient's judgment. All previous transmissions of the spirometric
data were analyzed retrospectively to detect early signs of asthmatic
deterioration, which resulted in dispatch of the mobile intensive care
unit (MICU) to the patient's home. RESULTS: In 19 patients (49%), analysis
of the spirometric data detected early signs of asthmatic deterioration.
Analysis of the spirometric data correlated with decisions to dispatch
the MICU in 22 of 39 (56%) patients. In patients with severe asthma, the
decision was made during oral communication between the patient and the
operator and was based on clinical impression rather than functional results.
CONCLUSION: Home monitoring of asthmatic patients with the telespirometry
system may improve the management of the disease and the quality of life
and reduce costly hospitalizations.