Ramezani Ramin, Zhang Wenhao, Cao Minh, Bui Alex, Petruse Antonia, Weldon Amelia, Naeim Arash
Department of Computer Science, University of California, Los Angeles, 550, 404 Westwood Plaza, Engineering 6, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States, 1 4242997051.
Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
JMIR Form Res. 2025 Jul 18;9:e66773. doi: 10.2196/66773.
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical need for telehealth and remote patient monitoring in health care delivery. Despite the growing use of on-body wearable sensors for continuous monitoring and predicting adverse events, their widespread adoption remains a significant challenge. While the pandemic has accelerated the acceptance of these technologies, achieving widespread integration requires their sustained incorporation into routine health care practices beyond emergencies. In this study, we extend the application of our previously developed remote patient monitoring system to patients with COVID-19.
Our objective is to assess whether the metrics obtained from our previously developed system can provide additional insights into the recovery trajectory of individuals affected by COVID-19. This case study aims to demonstrate that remote patient monitoring systems can be adapted to diverse patient cohorts during emergencies. We aim to illustrate the ease of deployment, particularly when these systems are already integrated into the existing health care ecosystem.
From November 2020 to July 2021, a total of 73 patients were recruited through the University of California, Los Angeles, Center for Smart Health, after having consented to participate in this study for 2 weeks. The research concentrated on an exploratory analysis, focusing on the detailed examination of characteristics and behaviors of patients with COVID-19 as captured by the remote patient monitoring system. We collected day-to-day changes in the following sensor measurements: daily activity, daily energy expenditure, indoor localization, SpO2, respiratory rate, heart rate, and temperature.
Out of the 73 patients satisfying the inclusion criteria, 41 successfully adhered to using the monitoring technology, with only 22 providing substantial watch data (>4 h). Among the participants, 39 used the pulse oximeter, 37 used the thermometer, and 36 used respiratory monitoring at night. This study demonstrated an overall increase in patients' activity levels toward the end of this study, with many beginning to leave their homes after 2 weeks. Additionally, respiratory rates shifted toward healthier lower levels, and oxygen saturation improved. Fatigue and headache were identified as the most prevalent symptoms, followed by cough and loss of smell.
The conclusion highlights the critical importance of monitoring patients outside of hospital settings, especially during pandemics, when patients travel to hospitals or receive home visits by health care professionals, which could increase the risk of disease transmission. Studies demonstrating the benefits and efficacy of remote monitoring in home settings can better prepare health care professionals for future pandemic events. Continuous monitoring of a wide range of patient metrics, from activities to vital signs, and integration of these data into electronic health records would not only improve accuracy and reduce the burden of data collection but also pave the way for enhanced home care, offering higher quality care at a lower cost.
新冠疫情凸显了医疗保健服务中对远程医疗和远程患者监测的迫切需求。尽管用于持续监测和预测不良事件的可穿戴式身体传感器的使用日益增加，但其广泛应用仍然是一项重大挑战。虽然疫情加速了这些技术的接受度，但要实现广泛整合，需要将其持续纳入紧急情况之外的常规医疗保健实践中。在本研究中，我们将先前开发的远程患者监测系统应用扩展到新冠患者。
我们的目标是评估从先前开发的系统中获得的指标是否能为受新冠疫情影响个体的康复轨迹提供更多见解。本案例研究旨在证明远程患者监测系统在紧急情况下可适用于不同患者群体。我们旨在说明部署的简便性，特别是当这些系统已集成到现有的医疗保健生态系统中时。
从2020年11月到2021年7月，通过加利福尼亚大学洛杉矶分校智能健康中心招募了总共73名患者，这些患者在同意参与本研究两周后开始监测。该研究集中于探索性分析，重点详细检查远程患者监测系统捕获的新冠患者的特征和行为。我们收集了以下传感器测量的每日变化数据：日常活动、每日能量消耗、室内定位、血氧饱和度、呼吸频率、心率和体温。
在满足纳入标准的73名患者中，41名成功坚持使用监测技术，只有22名提供了大量手表数据（>4小时）。在参与者中，39名使用了脉搏血氧仪，37名使用了温度计，36名在夜间进行了呼吸监测。本研究表明，在研究接近尾声时，患者的活动水平总体有所增加，许多患者在两周后开始离家外出。此外，呼吸频率趋向于更健康的较低水平，血氧饱和度有所改善。疲劳和头痛被确定为最普遍的症状，其次是咳嗽和嗅觉丧失。
该结论强调了在医院环境之外监测患者的至关重要性，特别是在疫情期间，此时患者前往医院或接受医护人员家访可能会增加疾病传播风险。证明远程监测在家庭环境中的益处和有效性的研究可以让医护人员更好地为未来的疫情事件做好准备。持续监测从活动到生命体征等广泛的患者指标，并将这些数据整合到电子健康记录中，不仅可以提高准确性并减轻数据收集负担，还将为加强家庭护理铺平道路，以更低的成本提供更高质量的护理。
