Evaluation of mobile phone-based tele-monitoring of cystic fibrosis patients during the COVID-19 pandemic: A 3-year experience in Iran

Background: Telemedicine has been used for cystic fibrosis (CF) in a wide range of signs and symptoms even before the COVID 19 pandemic, however, little is known about the health consequences and use of specific health care for cystic CF. This study aimed to evaluate the evolution of clinical trends and data related to mobile based monitoring activities in CF patients at home for 3 years. Methods: This is a semi experimental single group study. Forty five CF patients under 7 years' old who were referred to the Masih Daneshvari Hospital between 2018 and 2021 were selected. A mobile phone_based customized Short Message Service (SMS) application used to monitor patients. Remotely monitored variables included the amount and color of sputum, cough, wheezing, and shortness of breath at rest. SPSS using Chi square and Friedman tests. Results: The condition of patients based on the number and type of cough increased sputum, decreased appetite, fatty stool, fever and dyspnea, headache, noninvasive ventilation, and drug comfortably remained almost unchanged in the study of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd years, and the studied parameters did not show a significant difference (P > 0.05). Of course, the number of outpatient visits decreased significantly (P value: 0.02). The respiratory rate and arterial oxygen saturation variables were almost the same in three consecutive annual measurements (P values: 0.544 and 0.639, respectively). Conclusion: Telemedicine is a method that is useful in the follow up of chronic diseases such as CF and improves the quality of life and reduces the deterioration of lung function; therefore, there is less need for invasive treatments in the long run, and a fundamental change in referral motivation brings to the hospital.