Home oxygen saturation monitoring and quality of life in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: A prospective multicenter trial

Introduction. Long-term follow-up of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an important component of their management. While oxygen saturation (SpO2) is widely used in routine practice and clinical trials, feasibility and relevance of long-term SpO2 monitoring is unknown. Methods. In a multicenter prospective study we evaluated home daily SpO2 monitoring over at least 1 year and its correlation with a symptoms and quality of life (QoL) questionnaire. Patients with a diagnosis of IPF based on current guidelines received a multi-parameter digital recorder (Sally® Personal Assistant, Medigas, Italy) enabling acquisition and web-based storage of SpO2 measurements along with scores of a modified symptom and QoL questionnaire. Resting SpO2 data were acquired three times a day, for at least one minute; answers to questionnaire were recorded daily. All data were centrally transferred through the telephone landline. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (ρ) was used to calculate the correlation between SpO2 values and the QoL scores. Results. We enrolled 28 IPF patients (19 males, mean age 73 years): 22 (81%) provided valid data for calculation of ρ coefficient, over a mean period of 202 days. In most (91%) patients with valid data, SpO2 values decreased over time, while QoL score increased (i.e. QoL deteriorated): in 13 the correlation between SpO2 and QoL was statistically significant. Home SpO2 monitoring was well accepted. Conclusions. Long-term home SpO2 monitoring is feasible and well accepted in IPF patients. SpO2 values correlate with changes in symptoms and QoL scores, thus confirming the clinical relevance of this parameter.