Remote oxygen saturation and pulse rate monitoring in people with chronic lung disease - a validation study.

People with chronic respiratory conditions can achieve improvements in exercise capacity, breathlessness and quality of life through participation in supervised exercise training, which is a key component of pulmonary rehabilitation programs. To obtain maximal benefits from their training patients are often encouraged to exercise independently as well, away from the supervision of healthcare professionals. However, often patients lack confidence for exercising unsupervised. The ability to remotely monitor physiological parameters (such as peripheral oxygen level (SpO2) and heart rate (HR)) during exercise for these individuals may help to improve confidence to exercise. Additionally, the ability to monitor physiological symptoms remotely may create alternative exercise training options for people with chronic respiratory conditions who are otherwise unable to take part in centre-based pulmonary rehabilitation programmes. The aim of this study is to establish agreement in oxygen saturation (SpO2) and heart rate (HR) values between measures taken remotely via an app connected to a wireless fingertip pulse oximeter for remote real-time monitoring and those recorded in person using a standard oxygen saturation monitor, during exercise training in pulmonary rehabilitation in people with chronic respiratory diseases. Methods: Validity of the Smart Pulse Oximetry App during exercise training will be assessed during a single pulmonary rehabilitation exercise training session in individuals with chronic lung disease. Validity will be assessed through simultaneous measurement of SpO2 and HR transmitted via Bluetooth using the Smart Pulse Oximetry App and transmitted via wireless connection to a secure server for remote access (‘remote’); and standard ‘in-person’ measures of SpO2 and HR measured with the standard pulse oximeter used to assess physiological parameters during pulmonary rehabilitation. Measures of SpO2 and HR will be recorded at rest, during cycle training and whilst walking (either on a treadmill or along a corridor). Statistical analysis: Extent of agreement and bias between ‘remote’ and ‘in-person’ measures of SpO2 and HR will be assessed using intra-class correlation coefficients and Bland–Altman analyses respectively. Significance: Remote, home-based interventions are increasingly important to provide access to best care for people with chronic conditions. This study will validate a remote monitoring system suitable for use during remote exercise training in people with chronic lung disease.