Apnea of Prematurity in the Southern U.S.: The Role of Remote Patient Monitoring Once Discharged to Home

Abstract

Background: Apnea of prematurity is one of the most common challenges in preterm infants, contributing to the U.S.’s high infant mortality rate. There is a growing need for alignment of remote patient monitoring techniques and at-home care for infants diagnosed with apnea of prematurity, especially in the South where accessibility to health services is lacking. Methods: A comprehensive literature review of journal articles and research studies published between 2018 and 2023 was conducted through searching reputable databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, New England Journal of Medicine, and ScienceDirect. All articles were assessed for relevance and English language. The analysis adhered to a robust set of inclusion criteria to establish credibility, validity, reliability, and transferability. Results: This analysis revealed health care accessibility challenges associated with living in the South, which contribute to excess infant deaths above the national average. It also revealed that standardized guidelines for apnea of prematurity management through at-home cardiorespiratory monitors are lacking, and the scarcity of clinical and emotional support post-discharge causes parental worry and unnecessary visits to the hospital. Because of the current requirement for meeting with providers in person, excess clinic visits also occur. Additional strategies to improve accessibility and coordination of care are greatly needed. Conclusion: The further integration of remote patient monitoring into the home setting for infants diagnosed with apnea of prematurity is recommended to reduce costly hospital visits, increase accessibility of care, diminish parental stress, and increase parental emotional support. Future research should investigate how the incorporation of a trained clinical care team into the interpretation of cardiorespiratory monitors provides benefits to infants and their families.