Electronic Activity Level Monitoring Pilot in Pulmonary Hypertension

Remote patient monitoring can lead to improved patient outcomes, including improved quality of life, reduced readmissions, earlier treatment for symptoms detected prior to schedule in-office follow-up visits, improved communications with care providers, increased participation in self-management of disease, and an improved knowledge of their medical conditions . In patients with PAH, daily activity level, as measured using a physical activity monitor for seven consecutive days, correlated with 6-minute walk distance (6MWD). The monitor used in the aforementioned PAH study was positioned on the patients' right upper arm with an armband, as opposed to the more popular and more comfortable wristbands used today, such as the Fitbit Flex. Although the aforementioned PAH study did show a correlation between activity level monitoring and 6MWD, the patients were monitored for only seven days. It is still unknown whether this correlation would exist over a longer trial period and whether patients, their caregivers, and clinicians would find activity level monitoring useful in helping manage PH.