Subgroup analysis showed that telemonitoring reduced exacerbation rates when the intervention continued for longer than six months or pulmonary function was monitored .
Conclusions Telemonitoring for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was unlikely to result in statistically significant improvements in health outcomes .
However , our novel finding was that at least six months of intervention duration and monitoring of pulmonary function play roles in activating the effects of telemonitoring
Aims The purpose of this research was to investigate the effectiveness of telemonitoring for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease .
Tele-assistance in chronic respiratory failure patients: a randomised clinical trial
Chronic respiratory patients requiring oxygen or home mechanical ventilation experience frequent exacerbations and hospitalisations with related costs . Strict monitoring and care have been recommended . The aim of the present study was to primarily evaluate reduction in hospitalisations and , secondly , exacerbations , general practitioner ( GP ) calls and related cost-effectiveness of  tele-assistance ( TA ) for these patients . A total of 240 patients ( 101 with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD ) ) were r and omised to two groups : an intervention group entered a 1-yr TA programme  while  controls received traditional care . No anthropometric and clinical differences were found between groups both in baseline and in mortality ( 18 % for TA , 23 % for controls ) . Compared with controls , the TA group experienced significantly fewer hospitalisations ( -36 % ) , urgent GP calls ( -65 % ) and acute exacerbations ( -71 % ) . Only COPD patients , as a separate group , had fewer hospitalisations , emergency room admissions , urgent GP calls or exacerbations . Each patient referred to staff a mean±sd 36±25 times . After deduction of TA costs , the average overall cost for each patient was 33 % less than that for usual care . In chronic respiratory failure patients on oxygen or home mechanical ventilation , a nurse-centred tele-assistance prevents hospitalisations while it is cost-effective . The chronic obstructive pulmonary disease group seems to have a greater advantage from tele-assistance
Subgroup analysis showed that telemonitoring reduced exacerbation rates when the intervention continued for longer than six months or pulmonary function was monitored .
Conclusions Telemonitoring for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was unlikely to result in statistically significant improvements in health outcomes .
However , our novel finding was that at least six months of intervention duration and monitoring of pulmonary function play roles in activating the effects of telemonitoring
Aims The purpose of this research was to investigate the effectiveness of telemonitoring for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease .