Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: Early Telemedicine Training and Counselling After Hospitalization in Patients With Severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Feasibility Study
Brief Summary: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a widespread disease that can have a major impact on the lives of individuals. An essential element in the treatment of COPD is rehabilitation of which supervised training is an important part. However, not all individuals with severe COPD can participate in the rehabilitation provided by hospitals and municipal training centres due to distance to the training venues and transportation difficulties. The aim of the feasibility study was to evaluate an individualised home based training and counselling programme via video conference to patients with severe COPD after hospitalization with regard to safety, clinical outcomes, patients' perception, organisational aspects and economic aspects.


Options:
A: Inclusion criteria:

* COPD Subjects
* A COPD subject will be eligible for inclusion in this study only if all of the following criteria apply:
* Male or female subjects, aged 40-75 years inclusive
* A baseline (post-bronchodilator) FEV1 \<80% of predicted normal and a baseline (post-bronchodilator) FEV1/FVC ratio 70%
* Current or ex-smokers with a smoking history of at least 10 pack-years (number of pack years = (number of cigarettes per day / 20) x number of years smoked e.g., 20 cigarettes per day for 10 years, or 10 cigarettes per day for 20 years).
* A signed and dated written informed consent is obtained prior to participation
* Able to comply with the requirements of the protocol and be available for study visits over 3 years

Control Subjects - Current/Ex Smokers

* A control subject will be eligible for inclusion in this study only if all of the following criteria apply:
* Male or female subjects, aged 40-75 years inclusive, who are free from significant disease as determined by history, physical examination and screening investigations
* Baseline (post-bronchodilator) FEV1 \>85% of predicted normal. FEV1/FVC ratio \>70%
* Current or ex-smokers with a smoking history of at least 10 pack-years (number of pack years = (number of cigarettes per day / 20) x number of years smoked e.g., 20 cigarettes per day for 10 years, or 10 cigarettes per day for 20 years).
* A signed and dated written informed consent is obtained prior to participation.
* Able to comply with the requirements of the protocol and be available for study visits over 3 years

Control Subjects - Non-smokers

* A non-smoking control subject will be eligible for inclusion in this study only if all of the following criteria apply:
* Male or female subjects, aged 40-75 years inclusive, who are free from significant disease as determined by history, physical examination and screening investigations
* Baseline (post-bronchodilator) FEV1 \>85% of predicted normal. FEV1/FVC ratio \>70%
* Non-smokers with a smoking history of \< 1 pack-year (number of pack years = (number of cigarettes per day / 20) x number of years smoked).
* A signed and dated written informed consent is obtained prior to participation.
* Able to comply with the requirements of the protocol and be available for study visits over 3 years

Exclusion Criteria:

COPD Subjects

* A COPD subject will not be eligible for inclusion in this study if any of the following criteria apply:
* Known respiratory disorders, or disorders identified at screening/visit 1 (including identification on the first CT scan), other than COPD (e.g.: lung cancer, sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, lung fibrosis, cystic fibrosis)
* Known history of significant inflammatory disease, other than COPD (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis and Lupus)
* Known to be severely alpha-1-antitrypsin deficient (PI SZ or ZZ)
* Having undergone lung surgery (e.g. lung reduction, lung transplant)
* Have cancer or have had cancer in the 5 years prior to study entry
* Serious, uncontrolled disease (including serious psychological disorders) likely to interfere with the study or impact on subject safety
* Is enrolled in a long term blinded drug study (subjects in open label studies may be considered and subjects in short blinded studies (approx less than 12 weeks may be considered following consultation with sponsor) or a study where there is significant radiation exposure (e.g.: CT scans)
* Have, in the opinion of the investigator, evidence of alcohol, drug or solvent abuse
* Have received a blood transfusion in the 4 weeks prior to study start
* Has experienced a moderate or severe exacerbation (requiring oral corticosteroid, antibiotics or hospitalisation) within the last 4 weeks. All courses of oral corticosteroids and antibiotics must be completed at least 2 weeks before study start
* Is on long term oral corticosteroids (long term is considered use for more than 3 consecutive months)
* Unable to walk
* Subject is a participating investigator, sub-investigator, study co-ordinator, or employee of a participating investigator, or is an immediate family member of the aforementioned.

Control Subjects

* A control subject will not be eligible for inclusion in this study if any of the following criteria apply:
* Known respiratory disorders, or disorders identified at screening/visit 1 including identification on the first CT scan (e.g.: COPD, asthma, lung cancer, sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, lung fibrosis)
* Known history of significant inflammatory disease (eg rheumatoid arthritis and Lupus)
* Known to be severely alpha-1-antitrypsin deficient (PI SZ or ZZ)
* Having undergone lung surgery (e.g. lung reduction, lung transplant)
* Have cancer or have had cancer in the 5 years prior to study entry
* Serious, uncontrolled disease (including serious psychological disorders) likely to interfere with the study
* Is enrolled in a long term blinded drug study (subjects in open label studies may be considered and subjects in short blinded studies (approx less than 12 weeks may be considered following consultation with sponsor) or a study where there is significant radiation exposure (e.g.: CT scans)
* Have, in the opinion of the investigator, evidence of alcohol, drug or solvent abuse.
* Have received a blood transfusion in the 4 weeks prior to study start
* Is on long term oral corticosteroids (long term is considered use for more than 3 consecutive months)
* Subject is a participating investigator, sub-investigator, study co-ordinator, or employee of a participating investigator, or is an immediate family member of the aforementioned.
B: Inclusion Criteria:

* severe and very severe COPD (i.e. with an FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in 1 second) value under 50% of the predicted value, an FEV1/FVC (forced vital capacity) ratio \< 70%, MRC (Medical Research Council Dyspnoea Scale) grade 3)
* ≥40 years
* hospitalization with exacerbation of COPD
* declined participation in the hospital based rehabilitation
* participation in videoconference sessions with a nurse for one week immediately after discharge.

Exclusion Criteria:

* inability to communicate via telephone and computer
* systolic BP \<100mm Hg
* X-rays of the thorax showing abnormalities suspicious of thoracic malignancy or lobar pneumonia
* a diagnosis of cancer or recurrence of cancer within the last 5 years
* hospitalization with septic shock, acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or other serious medical conditions (e.g. kidney disorder)
* heart failure (EF\<30%)
* if the patient did not wish to participate.
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* participants must have a diagnosed COPD, be over 40 years and have no other medical barriers to participate in training at home with the e-health program.

Exclusion Criteria:

* medical barriers to participate in training at home with the e-health program.
D: 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)

Answer: B