Characteristics of patients
| TA | Controls | p-value | |
| Patients n | 118 | 102 | |
| Age yrs | 61.2±17.6 | 61.1±17.4 | ns |
| Sex | |||
| Males | 75 (64) | 74 (72) | |
| Females | 43 (36) | 28 (28) | ns |
| Diagnosis | |||
| COPD | 57 (48) | 44 (43) | ns |
| Restrictive | 14 (12) | 14 (14) | |
| NM | 24 (20) | 26 (25.5) | |
| ALS | 12 (10.2) | 10 (9.8) | |
| Other | 11(9.3) | 8 (7.9) | |
| Ex-smokers | 55 (47) | 43 (42) | ns |
| Current smokers | 7 (6) | 9 (9) | |
| Symptoms yrs | 9.5±9.3 | 10.3±8.9 | ns |
| Patients under NMV | 50 (42) | 52 (51) | ns |
| Patients under IMV | 26 (22) | 21 (21) | ns |
| Patients under SB without MV | 42 (36) | 29 (28) | ns |
| HMV yrs | 2.1±1.8 | 1.9±2.0 | ns |
| Patients on LTOT | 75 (64) | 63 (62) | ns |
| LTOT yrs | 4.1±3.1 | 4±3.2 | ns |
| FEV1# % pred | 39±23 | 34±16 | ns |
| VC¶ % pred | 49±26 | 44±18 | ns |
| Pa,O2+ mmHg | 65±14 | 63±14 | ns |
| Pa,CO2+ mmHg | 46±8 | 47±9 | ns |
| pH+ | 7.40±0.38 | 7.40±0.40 | ns |
| MIP§ % pred | 42±30 | 38±15 | ns |
| MEPƒ % pred | 39±24 | 41±19 | ns |
| Comorbidities | 1.69±1.4 | 1.57±1.24 | ns |
| PLS | 2.50±0.94 | 2.45±0.86 | ns |
Data are presented as n (%) or mean±sd, unless otherwise stated. TA: tele-assistance; COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; NM: neuromuscular diseases; ALS: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; NMV: noninvasive mechanical ventilation; IMV: invasive mechanical ventilation; SB: spontaneous breathing; MV: mechanical ventilation; HMV: home mechanical ventilation; LTOT: long-term oxygen therapy; FEV1: forced expiratory volume in one second; % pred: % predicted; VC: vital capacity; Pa,O2: arterial oxygen tension; Pa,CO2: carbon dioxide arterial tension; MIP: maximal inspiratory pressure; MEP: maximal expiratory pressure; PLS pre-morbidity life score 24; ns: nonsignificant. #: available for 92 patients in TA group and 73 in controls; ¶: available for 79 patients in TA group and 70 in controls; +: measured in room air and available for 85 patients in TA group and 78 in controls; §: available for 61 patients in TA group and in 59 controls; ƒ: available for 59 patients in TA group and in 57 controls.