Source: Annual Congress 2010 - COPD: treatment and monitoring
Disease area: Airway diseases

Abstract

Aim: COPD is a major cause for the utilisation of healthcare resources in primary and secondary care. The Lanarkshire Respiratory Managed Clincal Network explored the use of telehealth in the management of patients with COPD. The aim was to reduce hospital admissions, out-of-hours primary care and hospital attendance.
Methods: A telephone-based interactive voice-response system (Excelicare; Axsys Technology) was employed in Lanarkshire, Scotland. Patients were required to phone into the system on a regular basis and during worsening of symptoms. A questionnaire of symptoms were reviewed and an alert message was generated if 2 or more symptoms were present. A community nurse would telephone within 3 hours of the alert to provide advice or home visit.
Results: 38 patients (mean age 71 years; 18 males, 20 females) with COPD were recruited from a mixture of urban and rural areas into a one year pilot project. Mean FEV₁ was 39% of predicted and median MRC dyspnoea scale 3. A total of 342 alerts were generated. 312 telephone replies and 15 community nurse visits were made. 30 alerts did not generate a telephone reply or nurse visit. Nine patients were withdrawn from the project. There was a significant reduction in hospital admissions (median 1 vs. 0; p<0.001) compared to the year before the use of telehealth. Prescriptions for antibiotics/oral steroids increased significantly (median 0 vs. 2; p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in GP and A&E visits.
Conclusions: A telehealth system, in conjunction with community nursing support, significantly reduced hospital admissions for exacerbations of COPD. This was associated with increased antibiotic and oral steroid prescription.

Rating:

Share or cite this content

Citations should be made in the following way:
K. S. Tan, A. Mulligan, M. Carroll, K. Carson (East Kilbride, Wishaw, United Kingdom). Use of telehealth in the management of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Eur Respir J 2010; 36: Suppl. 54, 1320

Member's Comments

No comment yet.

Related content which might interest you: Telemedical care concept for patients with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) Source: Annual Congress 2012 - Going with the flow: assessment and evaluation of airway function and its role in patient management Year: 2012 Optimal assessment and management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) Source: Guideline 1995 Year: 1995 Enalapril in the management of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) Source: Eur Respir J 2003; 22: Suppl. 45, 241s Year: 2003 The evaluation of a helpline for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) Source: Annual Congress 2004 - Smoking and cessation in respiratory disease Year: 2004 Proactive integrated care improves quality of life in patients with COPD Source: Eur Respir J 2009; 33: 1031-1038 Year: 2009 Prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in primary care Source: Annual Congress 2008 - Issues in the management of COPD in the community Year: 2008 Therapeutic approaches in the chronic obstructive (COPD) pulmonary disease Source: Eur Respir J 2002; 20: Suppl. 38, 472s Year: 2002 Delivery of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) services in UK primary care: nurses‘ roles and responsibilities Source: Annual Congress 2007 - Nurses' involvement in the follow-up of patients with COPD and lung cancer Year: 2007 Does pulmonary rehabilitation improve mortality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)? Source: International Congress 2017 – Latest insights into pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD Year: 2017 The experiences and expectations of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) referred to pulmonary rehabilitation in the UK Source: Annual Congress 2010 - Exercise training: new groups, new methods and outcomes Year: 2010 Underutilization of spirometry in the hospital diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) Source: Annual Congress 2008 - Organisation of care and management of COPD Year: 2008 Telemonitoring of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients at home Source: Annual Congress 2010 - Telemonitoring of COPD patients at home Year: 2010 Physicians’ attitudes to dyspnoea management in advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) Source: International Congress 2016 – Latest insights into the management of chronic respiratory diseases Year: 2016 Use of spirometry screening for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) requiring oxygen therapy Source: Eur Respir J 2006; 28: Suppl. 50, 838s Year: 2006 Self-management plans in exacerbations of COPD Source: Annual Congress 2006 - Exacerbation of COPD Year: 2006 Detection of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in primary health care Source: Eur Respir J 2004; 24: Suppl. 48, 473s Year: 2004 The state of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) Source: Eur Respir J 2007; 30: Suppl. 51, 547s Year: 2007 The impact of using different symptom-based exacerbation algorithms in patients with COPD Source: Eur Respir J 2011; 37: 1260-1268 Year: 2011 Diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) - are guidelines being implemented in primary care? Source: Eur Respir J 2001; 18: Suppl. 33, 347s Year: 2001 Patient knowledge and awareness of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) Source: Eur Respir J 2002; 20: Suppl. 38, 621s Year: 2002