Abstract
Introduction: COPD is the cause of a high mortality rate and has a great impact on public health. Because of this strategies such as remote presence telemedicine, that allows the early detection of the exacerbations and a fast way to intervene on a great number of patients can be a means to avoid hospitalizations.
Objective: The objective of our study has been to describe the characteristics of patients from our hospital included in our TELEPOC program, as well as to evaluate the impact of this telemonitoring program on hospital admissions.
Materials and Methodologies: This is a descriptive and retrospective analysis on a sample of 60 patients in Basurto Hospital included in TELEPOC program during the period between June 2015 and December 2018. Inclusion criteria for TELEPOC program were a severe COPD, diagnosed by spirometry, patients who suffered >2 exacerbations per year or >3 exacerbations in two years requiring hospitalization
Results: The mean age in the sample was 58 years, 37% were women and 63% men. 83% of the patients are GOLD D group ( in this group the 42% are grade III) and the rest are C group.
Regarding comorbidities, 38% were respiratory, 30% cardiovascular, 60% had cardiovascular risk factors and 25% were psychiatric.
Hospital admissions decreased from average 2,42 to 1,41 admissions patient per year (p<0,001) . Visits to the Emergency Department decreased from average 0,83 per year to 0,44 (p<0,017).
Conclusions:
– Telemonitoring has considerably decreased hospitalisation and emergency episodes in a 3,5 year period.
– Patients with frequent exacerbations requiring hospitalization, are a good candidates for this telemonitoring strategy achieving a better control of the disease.
Footnotes
Cite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2019; 54: Suppl. 63, PA5228.
This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).
- Copyright ©the authors 2019