Comparison of Therapy and Healing Outcomes of Patients Receiving Negative Pressure Wound Therapy with or Without Remote Therapy Monitoring

Background: Remote therapy monitoring (RTM) presents an opportunity for supporting patient adherence to negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) in the homecare setting. In May 2018, RTM enabled units were deployed into the field that could securely transmit therapy usage data.

Purpose: This study examines differences in adherence, length of therapy, and the rate of wound size reduction between patients with or without RTM.

Methods: Patients were included in the study if they received NPWT alone or with RTM between May 2018 and October 2018, belonged to a single payor population, and had a commercial, exchange, managed Medicare, or Medicare insurance type. In conjunction with RTM, a network of virtual therapy specialists contacted patients when their therapy usage was low and provided education to assist with therapy adherence. In total, 2,072 patients were included in this study: 1,065 were enrolled in the RTM program and 1,007 received NPWT without RTM.

Results: Adherence to NPWT was significantly higher in the RTM group compared to non-RTM (20.7 and 18.1 mean hours per day, respectively; P<0.0001). The mean number of therapy days in the RTM group was 32.8 days, compared to 34.6 days in the non-RTM group. Among 752 patients with at least 2 wound measurements, 378 received NPWT with RTM and 374 received NPWT alone. The daily percent change in wound volume and area in the RTM group was 1.91% and 1.21%, respectively, compared to the non-RTM group (1.77% and 1.05%).

Conclusion: These data suggest that use of RTM with NPWT increases therapy adherence with the potential for shorter therapy duration and improved rate of wound size reduction.