Advances in Remote Respiratory Assessments for People with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Systematic Review

Current technological advancement in asthma care

INTRODUCTION

Asthma is a common chronic respiratory disease affecting 262 million people globally, causing half a million deaths each year. Poor asthma outcomes are frequently due to non-adherence to medication, poor engagement with asthma services, and a lack of objective diagnostic tests. In recent years, technologies have been developed to improve diagnosis, monitoring, and care.

AREAS COVERED

Technology has impacted asthma care with the potential to improve patient outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and provide personalized management. We focus on current evidence on home diagnostics and monitoring, remote asthma reviews, and digital smart inhalers. PubMed, Ovid/Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus and Google Scholar were searched in November 2023 with no limit by year of publication.

EXPERT OPINION

Advanced diagnostic technologies have enabled early asthma detection and personalized treatment plans. Mobile applications and digital therapeutics empower patients to manage their condition and improve adherence to treatments. Telemedicine platforms and remote monitoring devices have the potential to streamline asthma care. AI algorithms can analyze patient data and predict exacerbations in proof-of-concept studies. Technology can potentially provide precision medicine to a wider patient group in the future, but further development is essential for implementation into routine care which in itself will be a major challenge.

Development and Validation of Prediction Models for Exacerbation, Frequent Exacerbations and Severe Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Registry Study in North China

In COPD patients, exacerbation has a detrimental influence on the quality of life, disease progression and socioeconomic burden. This study aimed to develop and validate models to predict exacerbation, frequent exacerbations and severe exacerbations in COPD patients. We conducted an observational prospective multicenter study. Clinical data of all outpatients with stable COPD were collected from Beijing Chaoyang Hospital and Beijing Renhe Hospital between January 2018 and December 2019. Patients were followed up for 1 year. The data from Chaoyang Hospital was used for modeling dataset, and that of Renhe Hospital was used for external validation dataset. The final dataset included 456 patients, with 326 patients as the model group and 130 patients as the validation group. Using LABA + ICS, frequent exacerbations in the past year and CAT score were independent risk factors for exacerbation in the next year (OR = 2.307, 2.722 and 1.147), and FVC %pred as a protective factor (OR = 0.975). Combined with chronic heart failure, frequent exacerbations in the past year, blood EOS counts and CAT score were independent risk factors for frequent exacerbations in the next year (OR = 4.818, 2.602, 1.015 and 1.342). Using LABA + ICS, combined with chronic heart failure, frequent exacerbations in the past year and CAT score were independent risk factors for severe exacerbations in the next year (OR = 1.950, 3.135, 2.980 and 1.133). Based on these prognostic models, nomograms were generated. The prediction models were simple and useful tools for predicting the risk of exacerbation, frequent exacerbations and severe exacerbations of COPD patients in North China.

Consideration of Sex, Gender, or Age on Outcomes of Digital Technologies for Treatment and Monitoring of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Overview of Systematic Reviews

BACKGROUND

Several systematic reviews have addressed digital technology use for treatment and monitoring of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess if systematic reviews considered the effects of sex, gender, or age on the outcomes of digital technologies for treatment and monitoring of COPD through an overview of such systematic reviews. The objectives of this overview were to (1) describe the definitions of sex or gender used in reviews; (2) determine whether the consideration of sex, gender, or age was planned in reviews; (3) determine whether sex, gender, or age was reported in review results; (4) determine whether sex, gender, or age was incorporated in implications for clinical practice in reviews; and (5) create an evidence map for development of individualized clinical recommendations for COPD based on sex, gender, or age diversity.

METHODS

MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, Epistemonikos, Web of Science, and the bibliographies of the included systematic reviews were searched to June 2022. Inclusion was based on the PICOS framework: (1) population (COPD), (2) intervention (any digital technology), (3) comparison (any), (4) outcome (any), and (5) study type (systematic review). Studies were independently selected by 2 authors based on title and abstract and full-text screening. Data were extracted by 1 author and checked by another author. Data items included systematic review characteristics; PICOS criteria; and variables related to sex, gender, or age. Systematic reviews were appraised using A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews, version 2 (AMSTAR 2). Data were synthesized using descriptive statistics.

RESULTS

Of 1439 records, 30 systematic reviews published between 2010 and 2022 were included in this overview. The confidence in the results of 25 of the 30 (83%) reviews was critically low according to AMSTAR 2. The reviews focused on user outcomes that potentially depend on sex, gender, or age, such as efficacy or effectiveness (25/30, 83%) and acceptance, satisfaction, or adherence (3/30, 10%) to digital technologies for COPD. Reviews reported sex or gender (19/30 systematic reviews) or age (25/30 systematic reviews) among primary study characteristics. However, only 1 of 30 reviews included age in a subgroup analysis, and 3 of 30 reviews identified the effects of sex, gender, or age as evidence gaps.

CONCLUSIONS

This overview shows that the effects of sex, gender, or age were rarely considered in 30 systematic reviews of digital technologies for COPD treatment and monitoring. Furthermore, systematic reviews did not incorporate sex, gender, nor age in their implications for clinical practice. We recommend that future systematic reviews should (1) evaluate the effects of sex, gender, or age on the outcomes of digital technologies for treatment and monitoring of COPD and (2) better adhere to reporting guidelines to improve the confidence in review results.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42022322924; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=322924.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

RR2-10.2196/40538.

Unsupervised home spirometry versus supervised clinic spirometry for respiratory disease: a systematic methodology review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The number of patients completing unsupervised home spirometry has recently increased due to more widely available portable technology and the COVID-19 pandemic, despite a lack of solid evidence to support it. This systematic methodology review and meta-analysis explores quantitative differences in unsupervised spirometry compared with spirometry completed under professional supervision.

METHODS

We searched four databases to find studies that directly compared unsupervised home spirometry with supervised clinic spirometry using a quantitative comparison (e.g. Bland-Altman). There were no restrictions on clinical condition. The primary outcome was measurement differences in common lung function parameters (forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC)), which were pooled to calculate overall mean differences with associated limits of agreement (LoA) and confidence intervals (CI). We used the I2 statistic to assess heterogeneity, the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2) tool to assess risk of bias and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach to assess evidence certainty for the meta-analyses. The review has been registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021272816).

RESULTS

3607 records were identified and screened, with 155 full texts assessed for eligibility. We included 28 studies that quantitatively compared spirometry measurements, 17 of which reported a Bland-Altman analysis for FEV1 and FVC. Overall, unsupervised spirometry produced lower values than supervised spirometry for both FEV1 with wide variability (mean difference -107 mL; LoA= -509, 296; I2=95.8%; p<0.001; very low certainty) and FVC (mean difference -184 mL, LoA= -1028, 660; I2=96%; p<0.001; very low certainty).

CONCLUSIONS

Analysis under the conditions of the included studies indicated that unsupervised spirometry is not interchangeable with supervised spirometry for individual patients owing to variability and underestimation.

Perspectives and Attitudes of General Practitioners Towards Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological COPD Management in a Belgian Primary Care Setting: A Qualitative Study

Background

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex and heterogeneous condition that requires multidisciplinary management. In Belgium, the treatment of COPD is mainly managed by general practitioners (GPs). Several clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) recommend the use of non-pharmacological treatments, such as pulmonary rehabilitation, and interdisciplinary care for COPD patients. Although considerable research has been devoted to addressing the multitude of reasons for the lack of adherence to these aspects of the CPGs, less attention has been paid to understanding the perspectives and attitudes of GPs that lead to this suboptimal implementation.

Purpose

This study aimed to 1) explore Belgian GPs' perceptions regarding COPD management in a primary care setting and 2) collect their views on the importance of pulmonary rehabilitation and interprofessional care in COPD management.

Methods

A descriptive study, conducted between August 2014 and May 2015, used interviews from a sample of 30 Flemish GPs. Data were analyzed following the principles of thematic analysis.

Results

COPD management was patient-centered, focusing on immediate symptom relief and reducing future risks through pharmacotherapy and proper patient education. Deviations from the CPGs were noted, with only a few GPs performing spirometry themselves. Conditions to prescribe respiratory physiotherapy were not well known. Some GPs remained unconvinced about the (cost-)effectiveness of respiratory physiotherapy despite the fast-expanding scientific evidence. Interprofessional care was limited to GP-respiratory physician (re)-referral and communication. GPs showed a reactive attitude towards interprofessional collaboration for non-pharmacological therapies, which is not in line with the proactive approach recommended in CPGs.

Conclusion

GPs managed COPD patients mainly by reducing symptoms with pharmacological therapy. Integrated care regarding non-pharmacological treatments was not well implemented due to the obstacles in interprofessional collaboration. Future care models incorporating personalized care planning could provide a solution to manage COPD's complex healthcare demands.

The diversity of providers' and consumers' views of virtual versus inpatient care provision: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

A broad-based international shift to virtual care models over recent years has accelerated following COVID-19. Although there are increasing numbers of studies and reviews, less is known about clinicians' and consumers' perspectives concerning virtual modes in contrast to inpatient modes of delivery.

METHODS

We conducted a mixed-methods study in late 2021 examining consumers' and providers' expectations of and perspectives on virtual care in the context of a new facility planned for the north-western suburbs of Sydney, Australia. Data were collected via a series of workshops, and a demographic survey. Recorded qualitative text data were analysed thematically, and surveys were analysed using SPSS v22.

RESULTS

Across 12 workshops, 33 consumers and 49 providers from varied backgrounds, ethnicities, language groups, age ranges and professions participated. Four advantages, strengths or benefits of virtual care reported were: patient factors and wellbeing, accessibility, better care and health outcomes, and additional health system benefits, while four disadvantages, weaknesses or risks of virtual care were: patient factors and wellbeing, accessibility, resources and infrastructure, and quality and safety of care.

CONCLUSIONS

Virtual care was widely supported but the model is not suitable for all patients. Health and digital literacy and appropriate patient selection were key success criteria, as was patient choice. Key concerns included technology failures or limitations and that virtual models may be no more efficient than inpatient care models. Considering consumer and provider views and expectations prior to introducing virtual models of care may facilitate greater acceptance and uptake.

Innovative models of healthcare delivery: an umbrella review of reviews

OBJECTIVE

To undertake a synthesis of evidence-based research for seven innovative models of care to inform the development of new hospitals.

DESIGN

Umbrella review.

SETTING

Interventions delivered inside and outside of acute care settings.

PARTICIPANTS

Children and adults with one or more identified acute or chronic health conditions.

DATA SOURCES

PsycINFO, Ovid MEDLINE and CINAHL.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Clinical indicators and mortality, healthcare utilisation, quality of life, self-management and self-care and patient knowledge.

RESULTS

A total of 66 reviews were included, synthesising evidence from 1272 primary studies across the 7 models of care. Virtual care was the most common model studied, addressed by 47 (73%) of the reviews. Common outcomes evaluated across reviews were clinical indicators and mortality, healthcare utilisation, self-care and self-management, patient knowledge, quality of life and cost-effectiveness. The findings indicate that the innovative models of healthcare we identified in this review may be effective in managing patients with a range of acute and chronic conditions. Most of the included reviews reported evidence of comparable or improved care.

CONCLUSIONS

A consideration of local infrastructure and individual patient characteristics, such as health literacy, may be critical in determining the suitability of models of care for patients and their implementation in local health systems.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

10.17605/OSF.IO/PS6ZU.

Remotely monitored Baduanjin exercise in moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients (BROCADE): A study protocol

BACKGROUND

Baduanjin is a traditional Chinese exercise regimen used to treat various chronic illnesses and is associated with both psychological and physical benefits. However, its benefits for patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are unclear. This study aims to assess the efficacy, safety, and underlying mechanisms of Baduanjin exercise in patients with moderate-to-severe COPD (BROCADE) by remote monitoring.

METHODS

This study protocol describes a multicenter, open-label, prospective randomized computed tomography. A total of 150 individuals who meet the inclusion criteria after the screening and consent processes will take part in the study. All participants will be provided routine medication and lifestyle interventions. They will be randomly assigned to a control group, a classical pulmonary rehabilitation group, or a Baduanjin group, which will undergo remotely monitored Baduanjin exercises for a cumulative duration of 1 hour per day, three times per week for 12 weeks. The participants will be followed for 24 weeks. The primary outcomes will be a 6-minutes walking distance and St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire index. The secondary outcomes will be lung function, cross-sectional area of the pectoralis major and subcutaneous fat, modified Medical Research Council score, COPD assessment test questionnaire results, extremity muscle strength, and quality of life. Any adverse events that may occur will be monitored and recorded.

RESULTS

This study is ongoing and will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication once completed.

CONCLUSION

A novel neutrophil-related inflammatory mechanism will potentially be identified. In addition, the study results will provide a safe, effective, simple and operational Baduanjin exercise protocol for moderate-to-severe COPD patients aimed at improving prognosis and quality of life.

Remote patient monitoring in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Remote patient monitoring allows monitoring high-risk patients through implementation of an expanding number of technologies in coordination with a healthcare team to augment care, with the potential to provide early detection of exacerbation, prompt access to therapy and clinical services, and ultimately improved patient outcomes and decreased healthcare utilization.In this review, we describe the application of remote patient monitoring in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease including the potential benefits and possible barriers to implementation both for the individual and the healthcare system.

Telemedicine as a Means to an End, Not an End in Itself

Telemedicine (TM)—the management of disease at a distance—has potential usefulness for patients with advanced respiratory disease. Underscoring this potential is the dramatic expansion of its applications in clinical medicine. However, since clinical studies testing this intervention often provide heterogeneous results, its role in the medical management of respiratory disorders remains inconclusive. A major problem in establishing TM’s effectiveness is that it is not a single intervention; rather, it includes a number of divergent diagnostic and therapeutic modalities—and each must be tested separately. Reflecting the discord between the need for further documentation of its approaches and effectiveness and its rapid utilization without this needed information, a major challenge is the lack of international guidelines for its integration, regulation, operational plans, and guidance for professionals. Tailored TM, with increased flexibility to address differing healthcare contexts, has the potential to improve access to and quality of services while reducing costs and direct input by health professionals. We should view TM as a tool to aid healthcare professionals in managing their patients with respiratory diseases rather than as a stand-alone substitute to traditional medical care. As such, TM is a means rather than an end.

Feasibility of RESP-FIT: Technology-Enhanced Self-Management Intervention for Adults with COPD

INTRODUCTION

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with substantial functional morbidity, including activity-limiting symptoms such as dyspnea and fatigue. Self-management interventions aid in symptomatic management of COPD and have been shown to produce positive outcomes on quality of life (QOL) and reduce hospital admissions.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this randomized controlled longitudinal pilot study was to assess feasibility of the combined Respiratory Fitness (RESP-FIT) + Smartphone Airway Management System (SAMS) program, a 6-week, self-management, technology-enhanced respiratory muscle strength training (RMST) mHealth intervention.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Feasibility was assessed by evaluating recruitment, retention, acceptability, adherence, and safety data. Data were collected from 30 participants (15 in intervention group, 15 in control) at 3 time points (baseline, 6 weeks, and 14 weeks). The intervention group was requested to perform RMST at regular intervals during the week (5 breaths, 5 times a day, 5 days a week). Bluetooth enabled tracking was used to track training sessions. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

RESULTS

Recruitment was staggered for device usage and was completed in 57 weeks, with near 90% retention from baseline to end-of-intervention. Mobile application rating scale scores and interview data indicated moderate satisfaction. Participants completed 14,388 actions in the app. The most commonly used features were recording of daily symptoms via ecological momentary assessment (EMA) and tracking RMST if assigned to training sessions. Training days were successfully captured using EMA, but Bluetooth enabled training tracking was found to be not feasible. Overall, participants reported satisfaction with the RESP-FIT + SAMS mHealth intervention and found it acceptable.

CONCLUSION

RESP-FIT is feasible and enables real-time COPD symptom assessment in the home environment, but additional work is needed to integrate Bluetooth technology into the platform. Ongoing investigations focus on the accuracy of symptom perception, self-efficacy, and momentary factors that impact adherence behaviors.

Multi-channel lung sounds intelligent diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

BACKGROUND

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic respiratory disease that seriously threatens people's health, with high morbidity and mortality worldwide. At present, the clinical diagnosis methods of COPD are time-consuming, invasive, and radioactive. Therefore, it is urgent to develop a non-invasive and rapid COPD severity diagnosis technique suitable for daily screening in clinical practice.

RESULTS

This study established an effective model for the preliminary diagnosis of COPD severity using lung sounds with few channels. Firstly, the time-frequency-energy features of 12 channels lung sounds were extracted by Hilbert-Huang transform. And then, channels and features were screened by the reliefF algorithm. Finally, the feature sets were input into a support vector machine to diagnose COPD severity, and the performance with Bayes, decision tree, and deep belief network was compared. Experimental results show that high classification performance using only 4-channel lung sounds of L1, L2, L3, and L4 channels can be achieved by the proposed model. The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of mild COPD and moderate + severe COPD were 89.13%, 87.72%, and 91.01%, respectively. The classification performance rates of moderate COPD and severe COPD were 94.26%, 97.32%, and 89.93% for accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity, respectively.

CONCLUSION

This model provides a standardized evaluation with high classification performance rates, which can assist doctors to complete the preliminary diagnosis of COPD severity immediately, and has important clinical significance.

Remote risk-stratification of dyspnoea in acute respiratory disorders: a systematic review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Telephone and video-based triage of dyspnoea has become commonplace and clinicians are faced with a new challenge in risk stratification of patients with dyspnoea due to suspected COVID-19. This review aimed to identify existing remote assessment modalities for acute dyspnoea which can be applied during pandemics.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic search of Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Library and medRxiv for studies of remote assessment of dyspnoea [PROSPERO ID: CRD42020202292]. A total of 3014 abstracts were screened independently by two reviewers and 32 studies were progressed to full text screening.

RESULTS

Five studies met the inclusion criteria. Commonly assessed clinical features included respiratory rate, work of breathing, counting time and mental status. All studies found remote triage modalities to be appropriate for detecting severe respiratory distress or the need for emergency level care.

CONCLUSION

Evidence-based tools to remotely assess dyspnoea will reduce resource strain during current and future pandemics.

Telemedicine in COPD: An Overview by Topics

COPD is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and carries a huge and growing economic and social burden. Telemedicine might allow the care of patients with limited access to health services and improve their self-management. During the COVID-19 pandemic, patient's safety represents one of the main reasons why we might use these tools to manage our patients. The authors conducted a literature search in MEDLINE database. The retrieval form of the Medical Subject Headings (Mesh) was ((Telemedicine OR Tele-rehabilitation OR Telemonitoring OR mHealth OR Ehealth OR Telehealth) AND COPD). We only included systematic reviews, reviews, meta-analysis, clinical trials and randomized-control trials, in the English language, with the selected search items in title or abstract, and published from January 1st 2015 to 31st May 2020 (n = 56). There was a positive tendency toward benefits in tele-rehabilitation, health-education and self-management, early detection of COPD exacerbations, psychosocial support and smoking cessation, but the heterogeneity of clinical trials and reviews limits the extent to which this value can be understood. Telemonitoring interventions and cost-effectiveness had contradictory results. The literature on teleconsultation was scarce during this period. The non-inferiority tendency of telemedicine programmes comparing to conventional COPD management seems an opportunity to deliver quality healthcare to COPD patients, with a guarantee of patient's safety, especially during the COVID-19 outbreak.

[Lung sounds can be used as an indicator for assessing severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at the initial diagnosis]

OBJECTIVE

To assess the value of pulmonary auscultation for evaluating the severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at the initial diagnosis.

METHODS

The patients with newly diagnosed COPD in our hospital between May, 2016 and May, 2019 were enrolled in this study. According to the findings of pulmonary auscultation, the lung sounds were classified into 5 groups: normal breathing sounds, weakened breathing sounds, weakened breathing sounds with wheezing, obviously weakened breathing sounds, and obviously weakened breathing sounds with wheezing. The pulmonary function of the patients was graded according to GOLD guidelines, and the differential diagnosis of COPD from asthmatic asthma COPD overlap (ACO) was made based on the GOLD guidelines and the European Respiratory Criteria.

RESULTS

A total of 1046 newly diagnosed COPD patients were enrolled, including 949 male and 97 female patients with a mean age of 62.6± 8.71. According to the GOLD criteria, 88.1% of the patients were identified to have moderate or above COPD, 50.0% to have severe or above COPD; a further diagnosis of ACO was made in 347 (33.2%) of the patients. ANOVA analysis showed significant differences in disease course, FEV1, FEV1%, FEV1/FVC, FVC, FVC% and mMRC among the 5 auscultation groups (P < 0.001), but FENO did not differ significantly among them (P=0.097). The percentage of patients with wheezing in auscultation was significantly greater in ACO group than in COPD group (P < 0.001). Spearman correlation analysis showed that lung sounds was significantly correlated with disease severity, FEV1, FEV1%, FVC and FVC% of the patients (P < 0.001); Multiple linear regression analysis showed that a longer disease course, a history of smoking and lung sounds were all associated with poorer lung functions and a greater disease severity.

CONCLUSIONS

Lung sounds can be used as an indicator for assessing the severity of COPD at the initial diagnosis.

Mobile Phone Technologies in the Management of Ischemic Heart Disease, Heart Failure, and Hypertension: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death worldwide. Mobile phones have become ubiquitous in most developed societies. Smartphone apps, telemonitoring, and clinician-driven SMS allow for novel opportunities and methods in managing chronic CVD, such as ischemic heart disease, heart failure, and hypertension, and in the conduct and support of cardiac rehabilitation.

Objective

A systematic review was conducted using seven electronic databases, identifying all relevant randomized control trials (RCTs) featuring a mobile phone intervention (MPI) used in the management of chronic CVD. Outcomes assessed included mortality, hospitalizations, blood pressure (BP), and BMI.

Methods

Electronic data searches were performed using seven databases from January 2000 to June 2019. Relevant articles were reviewed and analyzed. Meta-analysis was performed using standard techniques. The odds ratio (OR) was used as a summary statistic for dichotomous variables. A random effect model was used.

Results

A total of 26 RCTs including 6713 patients were identified and are described in this review, and 12 RCTs were included in the meta-analysis. In patients with heart failure, MPIs were associated with a significantly lower rate of hospitalizations (244/792, 30.8% vs 287/803, 35.7%; n=1595; OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.62 to 0.97; P=.03; I²=0%). In patients with hypertension, patients exposed to MPIs had a significantly lower systolic BP (mean difference 4.3 mm Hg; 95% CI −7.8 to −0.78 mm Hg; n=2023; P=.02).

Conclusions

The available data suggest that MPIs may have a role as a valuable adjunct in the management of chronic CVD.

How stable is lung function in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease when monitored using a telehealth system? A longitudinal and home-based study

Background

Many telehealth systems have been designed to identify signs of exacerbations in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but few previous studies have reported the nature of recorded lung function data and what variations to expect in this group of individuals. The aim of the study was to evaluate the nature of individual diurnal, day-to-day and long-term variation in important prognostic markers of COPD exacerbations by employing a telehealth system developed in-house.

Methods

Eight women and five men with COPD performed measurements (spirometry, pulse oximetry and the COPD assessment test (CAT)) three times per week for 4–6 months using the telehealth system. Short-term and long-term individual variations were assessed using the relative density and weekly means respectively. Quality of the spirometry measurements (forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁) and inspiratory capacity (IC)) was assessed employing the criteria of American Thoracic Society (ATS)/European Respiratory Society (ERS) guidelines.

Results

Close to 1100 measurements of both FEV₁ and IC were performed during a total of 240 patient weeks. The two standard deviation ranges for intra-individual short-term variation were approximately ±210 mL and ± 350 mL for FEV₁ and IC respectively. In long-term, spirometry values increased and decreased without notable changes in symptoms as reported by CAT, although it was unusual with a decrease of more than 50 mL per measurement of FEV₁ between three consecutive measurement days. No exacerbation occurred. There was a moderate to strong positive correlation between FEV₁ and IC, but weak or absent correlation with the other prognostic markers in the majority of the participants.

Conclusions

Although FEV₁ and IC varied within a noticeable range, no corresponding change in symptoms occurred. Therefore, this study reveals important and, to our knowledge, previously not reported information about short and long-term variability in prognostic markers in stable patients with COPD. The present data are of significance when defining criteria for detecting exacerbations using telehealth strategies.

A systematic map and in-depth review of European telehealth interventions efficacy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

BACKGROUND

Evidence to support the implementation of telehealth (TH) interventions in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) varies throughout Europe. Despite more than ten years of TH research in COPD management, it is still not possible to define which TH interventions are beneficial to which patient group. Therefore, informing policymakers on TH implementation is complicated. We aimed to examine the provision and efficacy of TH for COPD management to guide future decision-making.

METHODS

A mapping study of twelve systematic reviews of TH interventions for COPD management was conducted. This was followed by an in-depth review of fourteen clinical trials performed in Europe extracted from the systematic reviews. Efficacy outcomes for COPD management were synthesized.

RESULTS

The mapping study revealed that systematic reviews with a meta-analysis often report positive clinical outcomes. Despite this, we identified a lack of pragmatic trial design affecting the synthesis of reported outcomes. The in-depth review visualized outcomes for three TH categories, which revealed a plethora of heterogeneous outcomes. Suggestions for reporting within these three outcomes are synthesized as targets for future empirical research reporting.

CONCLUSION

The present study indicates the need for more standardized and updated systematic reviews. Policymakers should advocate for improved TH trial designs, focusing on the entire intervention's adoption process evaluation. One of the policymakers' priorities should be the harmonization of the outcome sets, which would be considered suitable for deciding about subsequent reimbursement. We propose possible outcome sets in three TH categories which could be used for discussion with stakeholders.

Implementation of Telehealth Resources in Primary Care in Brazil and Its Association with Quality of Care

Background: Although several reviews on the relation between telemedicine and health care outcomes have pointed out some evidence, they have also underscored the need for further investigation. Introduction: Brazil has a national telehealth program implemented in 2007, involving teleconsulting and distance education actions in primary care. Objective: This study aims to describe the implementation of telehealth in primary care in Brazil and to identify if there is an association between telehealth and quality of care. Methods: A cross-sectional study analyzing data from interviews with 29,778 primary care team professionals in Brazil in 2014, which represents 92.5% of existing health care teams, on aspects of information technology, telehealth, and care was carried out. A multiple binary regression analysis was performed to study the associations between the extent of health care actions and using telehealth. Results: Of the 24,055 primary care units in Brazil where teams worked, only 50.1% (n: 12,055) had internet access, and 32.71% of teams claimed to be involved in telehealth actions in 2014. Between 2012 and 2014 there was an expansion in the use of telehealth resources in all regions of Brazil. The highest magnitude was observed for the association between employment of telehealth and improvement in child care (odds ratio [OR] = 2.09), followed by diabetes mellitus care (OR = 1.91), hypertension (OR = 1.89), and finally, women's health (OR = 1.86).