How Wearables Change the Ways We Monitor Cancer Treatment

Remote patient monitoring (RPM) is changing how healthcare providers support patients outside the hospital. From monitoring irregular heartbeats and tracking symptoms to preventing re-selecting and managing side effects of chemotherapy, wearable devices enable providers to keep an eye on patients who otherwise may be at risk of sudden complications.

For example, cancer patients receiving chemotherapy or T cell therapy face potentially serious side effects, such as infection or inflammation, without warning. With RPM, providers can experience early signs of trouble before upgrading, such as fever or irregular heart rate, which may prevent hospitalization and give patients peace of mind when they recover at home.

This ability to closely monitor patients is redefining standards of care, especially for those managing complex health conditions. RPM technology provides timely insights that enable medical teams to intervene early, improve patient outcomes and reduce hospital resource burden. As RPM is increasingly integrated into patient care, it is opening up new possibilities to better manage a range of diseases and make patients safer and more comfortable.

Early detection of neutrophil fever using rpm

Each year, approximately 29 chemotherapy patients are hospitalized for neutrophil membrane fever, a common and serious complication that accounts for more than 8% of all hospitalization costs associated with cancer. The average hospitalization for adults is 9.6 days, with a cost of approximately $24,770 per hospitalization, while the average childhood stays at 8.5 days, an estimated $26,000.

Traditionally, patients monitor neutrophil fever by regularly checking their temperature and reporting symptoms. However, this approach has limitations: patients may not report their symptoms continuously, and checkpoints may delay detection of time-sensitive issues.

RPM equipment provides significant improvements over traditional monitoring. Using Bluetooth medical wearables, patients can simply wear the device and their vitality continues to transfer to fix the remote server. This real-time data flow gives providers an early insight into the changes in patients’ condition – enabling them to detect neutrophil fever onset and complications before the intervention is escalated.

Neutropenic fevers will appear suddenly and usually do not show obvious symptoms, especially when the patient is asleep. Undetected neutropenic fever can quickly lead to sepsis-a life-threatening infection. For patients with weak immune systems or receiving chemotherapy, continuous monitoring is an important tool for identifying potential problems early. These devices provide a more reliable way to spot problems. By collecting data more frequently than occasional temperature checks, providers can better understand the patient’s health, resulting in more accurate and timely treatment.

A new way to monitor and manage patient care

The impact of RPM is becoming increasingly clear about how healthcare providers manage patient care. A recent survey shows that more than 80% of people are now using the technology – only 20% have seen significant growth in 2021. The survey also found that more than 32% of healthcare providers use RPM for post-chemotherapy monitoring, while more than half rely on it to prevent refostering.

In an ongoing study, 80 cancer patients undergoing outpatient chemotherapy were monitoring neutrophil membrane fever using RPM. During the first three months of treatment, study participants wore continuous temperature monitors—a clinical-grade wearable thermometer that automatically checked body temperature every 10 minutes.

The study focused on patients with breast, colon, lung and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, who all received various chemotherapy. When the sensor detects a fever, they immediately send real-time alerts to the patient and their oncologists.

The findings of the study may be on how future chemotherapy patients are monitored. As the use of this technology expands, it may become the standard part of outpatient chemotherapy care, resulting in faster interventions and fewer hospitalizations.

Early symptoms detection in CRS management

Continuous monitoring is also invaluable in solving CRS. This disease is an immune response to treatments, such as immunotherapy or T cell therapy, that leads to excessive cytokines being released into the bloodstream. Rapid increase in cytokines can cause serious symptoms such as fever, hypotension and organ dysfunction, which can be life-threatening if not resolved quickly.

However, through continuous monitoring, healthcare providers can closely observe vital signs and cytokine levels in real time. Early detection of CRS can enable medical teams to act quickly, including immunosuppressive therapy to mitigate the effects and prevent complications.

In a recent study, patients who received automotive T cell therapy wore wearable devices from infusion to discharge from hospital. The study explores whether these devices can help detect CRS early by tracking vital signs such as temperature, pulse rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen levels. Initial results suggest that wearable devices effectively monitor CR immediately after treatment, potentially enabling early detection and intervention.

Unlock a comprehensive way to enhance healthcare

Progress made in continuous monitoring has changed the way we manage conditions such as neutrophil heat and CR. However, the potential of RPM goes beyond these applications and we are just scratching the surface possible.

As healthcare providers continue to invest in this technology, the focus will be on finding solutions that can solve multiple conditions. This reduces the need for individual systems for each disease, enhances workflow, optimizes resources and increases efficiency.

Service providers leverage real-time data and ongoing monitoring to provide more proactive and patient-centric care. As technology becomes more integrated into care plans, it has the potential to reshape healthcare delivery and improve outcomes and patient experience.

Photo: Exdez, Getty Images

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