A Review of Portable Electronic Spirometers: Implications for Asthma Self-Management

Abstract

All devices (N = 16) allowed for monitoring of basic lung function parameters, but only 31% provided in-app videos on how to perform breathing maneuvers. Most devices (63%) provided graphical representations of lung function results, but only 44% gave immediate feedback on the quality of the breathing maneuver. Several devices (25%) were FDA-approved and cost ranged from US$99 to $1390. Information on data security (63%), measurement accuracy (50%), and association with patient outcomes (0%) was commonly limited. This review found that providers' ability to make informed decisions about whether asthma patients may benefit from portable electronic spirometers is limited due to lack of patient outcome data.

Discrepancy between Lung Function Measurements at Home and in the Hospital in Children with Asthma and CF

“…Another option is using more technically advanced portable spirometers which can provide direct feedback on the performed FVC manoeuvres, therefore potentially increasing the accuracy of the performed manoeuvres. There already is a variety of these kind of portable spirometers commercially available as was shown in the recent review by Carpenter et al [ 20 ]. However, more studies should be conducted on the usability and accuracy of these devices.…”

Tarsal Tunnel Mechanosensitivity Is Increased in Patients with Asthma: A Case-Control Study

“…The case group comprised patients diagnosed with asthma or allergic asthma by an experienced allergist physician. They presented the typical clinical symptomatology of asthma diagnosis and had undergone a positive lung function bronchodilator exam showing an FEV 1 parameter greater than 200 mL and 12% with regard to baseline values [5,6]. In addition, this group included individuals that had been prescribed bronchodilators interventions by allergists.…”

“…Lung function may be assessed by means of spirometry [5]. The most frequent used spirometry parameters in patients diagnosed with asthma may be the forced expiratory volume during 1 s (FEV 1 ) and the forced vital capacity (FVC), as well as the FEV 1 /FVC coefficient due to reflect airway alterations and the prediction of physiological measurements [6].…”

Pulmonary Function Testing in Asthmatic Children. Tests to Assess Outpatients During the Covid-19 Pandemic

“…Several home PFTs have been developed with the aim to enhance patients' self-management (41,47). Their use helps to overcome the infection control issues, as compared with laboratory tests.…”

“…Their use helps to overcome the infection control issues, as compared with laboratory tests. Most of these PFTs regard PEF and spirometry (13,(41)(42)(43)(44)(45)(46)(47)(51)(52)(53). Unsupervised measurements tend to be lower at home than in the laboratory, suggesting the need for patients' coaching (59,60).…”