Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: A Randomised Control Trial Assessing the Effects of an Intermediate Care Package in Preventing Hospitalisation of Elderly Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Brief Summary: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a term used for the conditions of chronic bronchitis and emphysema, diseases that are very common among the elderly and diseases that account for up to15% of all general medical admissions to National Health Service Hospitals. In a recent report on emergency admissions to acute hospitals in London, the King's Fund concluded that taking better care of elderly patients with COPD could reduce pressures on acute hospitals, and suggested that identification of vulnerable patients with lung disease and "pro-active," rather than "reactive," management might reduce the chances of hospitalisation. In this study, the investigators wish to compare a group of patients with COPD who are managed in the normal way, with another group of patients with COPD who receive all interventions known to be of some benefit to those with this condition. This will include a pulmonary rehabilitation programme, intensive education regarding self care, targeted advice to their general practitioners regarding how best to manage COPD, and regular contact with specialist respiratory nurses who will support the patients in their own homes by a combination of home visits and telephone contact. The value of such a comprehensive intervention will be studied, in terms of both its ability to reduce admissions to the hospital and its impact on quality of life.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients over the age of 50 with COPD
* Admitted to Charing Cross Hospital in 2000-2004 with an acute exacerbation of COPD

Exclusion Criteria:

* Significant co-morbidity including severe heart disease and cancer
* Any condition that would preclude participation in the physical therapy component of a pulmonary rehabilitation programme, including musculoskeletal diseases
B: Inclusion Criteria:

* Participants will have:

  1. a diagnosis of COPD which is clinically stable (including medications) for at least one month;
  2. spirometry results showing at least mild obstructive disease defined as post bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio \<0.70 with FEV1\<80% predicted or post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC ratio \<0.60 with FEV1\>80% predicted;
  3. ADL limited by dyspnea;
  4. a designated primary care physician;
  5. ability to speak English and sign consent form;
  6. actively using a computer and the Internet;
  7. no formal pulmonary rehabilitation training for at least 12 months;
  8. patients receiving supplemental oxygen will be acceptable if their O2 saturation can be maintained at \>80% on \<6L/min of nasal oxygen;
  9. understands how to and is able to rate their shortness of breath during exercise;
  10. age \> 40 years.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Subjects will be excluded if they have active symptomatic illness (e.g., cancer, left heart failure, ischemic heart disease with known coronary artery or valvular heart disease, psychiatric illness, and neuromuscular disease).
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosis of COPD
* At least one COPD-related hospitalization or COPD-related emergency department presentation in the previous 12 months to enrollment
* Capable to provide signed written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* Attendance to a rehabilitation program in the previous 6 months of enrollment
* Participation in another study that may have an impact on the outcome of this study
* Deemed by the health care team to be physically uncapable to perform the study procedures
* Presence of comorbidities wich might prevent the patient from safely undertake an exercise program at home
* Home environment not suitable for installation and use of rehabilitation and monitoring equipment (e.g. physical space, Wi-FI Internet or mobile Internet via 4G)
D: Inclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosis of COPD, clinically stable for 1 month;
* Spirometry results showing at least mild disease (FEV1/FVC \< 70% and FEV1 \< 80% predicted after bronchodilator);
* ADL limited by dyspnea;
* Ability to speak English and sign consent form;
* Actively use computer and the Internet;
* Maintain O2 saturation \> 85% on \< 6 L/min of nasal oxygen during the six minute walk;
* Understands and is able to rate shortness of breath during exercise

Exclusion Criteria:

* Active symptomatic illness other than COPD;
* Formal pulmonary rehabilitation training in the past 6 months

Answer: A