Assessment of NuvoAir platform use on clinical outcomes in adults with cystic fibrosis: a first Italian experience

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the long-term clinical impact of using the NuvoAir Home platform to monitor patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) for more than six months as part of a virtual model of care.

Methods: The NuvoAir Home platform consists of a smartphone application, Bluetooth spirometer and a clinician portal. Patients were trained to use the platform and asked to do home spirometry monthly. After each consultation, a survey was emailed to patients to evaluate their experience with the technology.

Results: Forty-five consecutive adult CF patients from Federico II Hospital, Naples, Italy (18 males; mean age 31.6±6.7; 17 homozygous for delta F508; FEV1 48.1±16.5 % predicted; FVC 62.9±18.2 % predicted; BMI 22.8±2.8) were recruited from May 2020. A total of 22 (49 %) had completed six months follow-up. Survey responses from all patients showed that the NuvoAir Home platform was easy to use and was a good tool to monitor lung function at home. The vast majority of patients (91,0%) reported that using the NuvoAir Home platform to share results with their CF team improved consultations and that they understood their CF better (81,8%). After six months of using the NuvoAir Home platform, we observed a 5.4% improvement from baseline in FEV1 % predicted, 14.3% in FVC % predicted and 66% reduction in pulmonary exacerbation vs. the previous year. No changes of medical treatment were reported during that time.

Conclusions: The NuvoAir Home platform was well accepted by patients with CF and improved their understanding of their medical condition. Using the NuvoAir Home platform led to improved lung function and a reduction in pulmonary exacerbations.