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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2021 Mar;289(3):404-410.
doi: 10.1111/joim.13230. Epub 2021 Jan 11.

Telehealth mitigates COPD disease progression compared to standard of care: a randomized controlled crossover trial

F Rassouli  1 , A Germann  1 , F Baty  1 , M Kohler  2 , D Stolz  3 , R Thurnheer  4 , T Brack  5 , C Kähler  6 , S Widmer  1 , U Tschirren  1 , N A Sievi  2 , M Tamm  3 , M H Brutsche  1
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Telehealth mitigates COPD disease progression compared to standard of care: a randomized controlled crossover trial

F Rassouli et al. J Intern Med. 2021 Mar.

Abstract

Background: We showed excellent adherence and satisfaction with our telehealth care (TC) approach for COPD. Here, the results of a consecutive randomized controlled trial are presented.

Methods: Patients were randomly assigned to TC or standard care (SC). During TC, patients answered six daily questions online, and focused on the early recognition of exacerbations, in addition to SC.

Results: The mean increase in COPD assessment test (CAT) was 1.8 vs. 3.6 points/year in the TC and SC groups, respectively (P = 0.0015). Satisfaction with care (VAS) at baseline was 8.2; at the end of SC, 8.5 (P = 0.062); and after TC, 8.8 (P < 0.001). We detected significantly more moderate exacerbations during TC.

Conclusion: Whilst receiving TC, the slope of the CAT increase - an indicator of the naturally progressive course of COPD - was reduced by 50%. Satisfaction with care increased with TC. The higher number of detected moderate exacerbations probably indicates a higher diagnostic sensitivity than without TC.

Keywords: COPD; COPD assessment test; COPD exacerbation; telehealth.

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Conflict of interest statement

The study was funded by Swisscom Health AG, SWICA Krankenversicherung AG, PneumRx GmbH, AstraZeneca AG and Boehringer Ingelheim Schweiz GmbH. None of these had any influence on design, conduct, interpretation or writing of the manuscript. Prof. Kohler reports personal fees from Bayer, Boehringer, Novartis, Astra and Mundipharma, all outside the submitted work, and grants and personal fees from Roche and GSK. Prof. Tamm reports grants from Vifor AG and Schwabe Pharma AG, all outside the submitted work. Prof. Stolz reports grants from AstraZeneca AG, Curetis AG and Boston Scientific and personal fees from AstraZeneca AG, Novartis AG, GSK AG, Roche AG, Zambon, Pfizer, Schwabe Pharma AG and Vifor AG, all outside the submitted work.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Mean CAT increase over time.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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