RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Hospital admitted COPD patients treated at home using telemedicine technology - A randomized, multi-centre trial
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP P2902
VO 40
IS Suppl 56
A1 Anna Svarre Jakobsen
A1 Lars Christian Laursen
A1 Birte Østergaard
A1 Susan Rydahl-Hansen
A1 Christina Emme
A1 Lone Schou
A1 Klaus Viengpheth Phanareth
YR 2012
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P2902.abstract
AB Background: COPD Patients with acute exacerbations are frequently admitted to emergency wards causing the patients to feel anxiety, loss of control and stress, and also causing considerable healthcare costs for the society.Aim: We investigated whether patients with COPD exacerbations admitted to a hospital could avoid further admittance and safely be treated at home by means of telemedicine technology (TT).Methods: Fifty-seven patients with severe COPD, who fulfilled the inclusion criteria and consented to participate within 24 hours of a hospital admission, were randomised to receive either standard treatment at the hospital or standard treatment at home using TT. The equipment consisted of a video conference system and a webcam, measuring equipment (spirometer, thermometer, and pulsoximeter), 24 hour online web-service, access to oxygen, nebulizer and medical therapy. Two university hospitals participated. Readmission within 30 days after discharge was selected as primary outcome.Results: Twenty-nine patients were allocated to the TT group and 28 patients received usual care in the hospital. There were 10 readmissions in each group involving eight patients in the TT group and six patients in the control group. Readmission rate was 27, 6% (95% CI 11, 3 to 43, 9) in the TT group and 21,4% (95% CI 6,2 to 36,6) in the conventional group. No statistically significant differences between groups in readmission rate, use of antibiotics or systemic steroids were seen. No deaths occurred during the study period.Conclusion: We propose that a considerable segment of patients with COPD exacerbations admitted to hospital can be safely treated at home using the TT solution.