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 .
Home telemonitoring for patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a randomized controlled trial
Background Although a number of studies have suggested that the use of Telemonitoring ( TM ) in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ( COPD ) can be useful and efficacious , its real utility in detecting Acute Exacerbation ( AE ) signaling the need for prompt treatment is not entirely clear . The current study aim ed to investigate the benefits of a TM system in managing AE in advanced-stage COPD patients to improve their Health-Related Quality of Life ( HRQL ) and to reduce utilization of healthcare services . Methods A 12-month R and omised Controlled Trial ( RCT ) was conducted in the Veneto region ( Italy ) . Adult patients diagnosed with Class III-IV COPD in accordance with the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease ( GOLD ) classification were recruited and provided a TM system to alert the clinical staff via a trained operator whenever variations in respiratory parameters fell beyond the individual ’s normal range . The study ’s primary endpoint was HRQL , measured by the Italian version of the two Short Form 36-item Health Survey ( SF36v2 ) . Its secondary endpoints were : scores on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale ( HADS ) ; the number and duration of hospitalizations ; the number of readmissions ; the number of appointments with a pulmonary specialist ; the number of visits to the emergency department ; and the number of deaths . Results Three hundred thirty-four patients were enrolled and r and omized into two groups for a 1 year period . At its conclusion , changes in the SF36 Physical and Mental Component Summary scores did not significantly differ between the TM and control groups [ ( -2.07 ( 8.98 ) vs -1.91 ( 7.75 ) ; p = 0.889 and -1.08 ( 11.30 ) vs -1.92 ( 10.92 ) ; p = 0.5754 , respectively ] . Variations in HADS were not significantly different between the two groups [ 0.85 ( 3.68 ) vs 0.62 ( 3.6 ) ; p = 0.65 and 0.50 ( 4.3 ) vs 0.72 ( 4.5 ) ; p = 0.71 ] . The hospitalization rate for AE COPD and /or for any cause was not significantly different in the two groups [ IRR = 0.89 ( 95 % CI 0.79–1,04 ) ; p = 0.16 and IRR = 0.91 ( 95 % CI 0,75 – 1.04 ) ; p = 0.16 , respectively ] . The readmission rate for AE COPD and /or any cause was , however , significantly lower in the TM group with respect to the control one [ IRR = 0.43 ( 95 % CI 0.19–0.98 ) ; p = 0.01 and 0.46 ( 95 % CI 0.24–0.89 ) ; p = 0.01 , respectively ] . ConclusionS tudy results showed that in areas where medical services are well established , TM does not significantly improve HRQL  in patients with COPD who develop AE . Although not effective in reducing hospitalizations , TM can nevertheless facilitate continuity of care during hospital-to-home transition by reducing the need for early readmission . Trial registration Retrospectively registered on January 2012 , Clinical Trials.gov Identifier : NCT01513980
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 .