JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive multisystem disorder requiring long-term respiratory, cardiac, and functional monitoring. Although telemedicine has improved remote communication, the integration of device-based mobile health technologies into DMD care remains conceptually underdefined. This Viewpoint presents a narrative synthesis of remote monitoring systems applicable to DMD, including home respiratory monitoring, cardiac device data, wearable activity sensing, and digital rehabilitation platforms. These technologies are considered as components of a distributed monitoring architecture enabling longitudinal physiological and functional data acquisition outside the clinic. Available evidence indicates technical feasibility and patient acceptability; however, most systems remain in pilot or validation phases. A major limitation is the absence of standardized metrics, validated decision thresholds, and escalation algorithms linking device-generated data with therapeutic actions. Consequently, current implementations primarily support surveillance and trend observation rather than direct clinical decision-making. We propose a conceptual model in which device-based monitoring constitutes an additional layer within the DMD care framework, connecting home-based data streams with multidisciplinary clinical interpretation. Advancing this field requires methodological standardization, clinical validation, and integration of digital metrics into established care pathways.