COPD
Tele-assistance in chronic respiratory failure patients: a randomised clinical trial
| Partners/ Authors | M Vitacca, L Bianchi, A Guerra, C Fracchia, A Spanevello, B Balbi, S Scalvini |
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| Start & end date | 2008 |
| Focus | The aim of the present study was to primarily evaluate reduction in hospitalisations and, secondly, exacerbations, general practitioner (GP) calls and related costeffectiveness of teleassistance (TA) for these patients. |
| Outcome | No anthropometric and clinical differences were found between groups both in baseline and in mortality (18% for TA, 23% for controls). Compared with controls, the TA group experienced significantly fewer hospitalisations (-36%), urgent GP calls (-65%) and acute exacerbations (-71%). After deduction of TA costs, the average overall cost for each patient was 33% less than that for usual care. In chronic respiratory failure patients on oxygen or home mechanical ventilation, a nurse-centred tele-assistance prevents hospitalisations while it is cost-effective. The chronic obstructive pulmonary disease group seems to have a greater advantage from tele-assistance. |
| Website | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18799512/ |