Digital Technology and the Future of Interstitial Lung Diseases 1

The widespread use of smartphones and the internet has enabled self-monitoring and more hybrid-care models. The COVID-19 pandemic has further accelerated remote monitoring, including in the heterogenous and often vulnerable group of patients with interstitial lung diseases (ILDs). Home monitoring in ILD has the potential to improve access to specialist care, reduce the burden on health-care systems, improve quality of life for patients, identify acute and chronic disease worsening, guide treatment decisions, and simplify clinical trials. Home spirometry has been used in ILD for several years and studies with other devices (such as pulse oximeters, activity trackers, and cough monitors) have emerged. At the same time, challenges have surfaced, including technical, analytical, and implementational issues. In this Series paper, we provide an overview of experiences with home monitoring in ILD, address the challenges and limitations for both care and research, and provide future perspectives.

Automated summary

The use of smartphones and the internet has facilitated self-monitoring and hybrid-care models, with the COVID-19 pandemic further fueling remote monitoring in interstitial lung diseases (ILDs). Home monitoring in ILD has the potential to enhance access to specialized care, alleviate healthcare system burdens, improve patient quality of life, identify disease deterioration, inform treatment decisions, and simplify clinical trials. However, there are challenges in terms of technical, analytical, and implementation issues. In this Series paper, experiences, challenges, and future perspectives of home monitoring in ILD are discussed.