The Role of Digital Tools in the Timely Diagnosis and Prevention of Acute Exacerbations of COPD: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways and lung parenchyma with multiple systemic manifestations. Exacerbations of COPD are important events during the course of the disease, as they are associated with increased mortality, severe impairment of health-related quality of life, accelerated decline in lung function, significant reduction in physical activity, and substantial economic burden. Telemedicine is the use of communication technologies to transmit medical data over short or long distances and to deliver healthcare services. The need to limit in-person appointments during the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a rapid increase in telemedicine services. In the present review of the literature covering published randomized controlled trials reporting results regarding the use of digital tools in acute exacerbations of COPD, we attempt to clarify the effectiveness of telemedicine for identifying, preventing, and reducing COPD exacerbations and improving other clinically relevant outcomes, while describing in detail the specific telemedicine interventions used.

The role of telemonitoring in patients on home mechanical ventilation

“…In general, telemedicine interventions that provide guidance on how to act upon signals obtained ( e.g. self-management, integrated care interventions [ 47 ], inclusion of telerehabilitation) show the most promising results [ 48 ]. In COPD patients on HMV, telemonitoring of ventilator data is attractive because daily nocturnal data on breathing can be acquired without additional patient effort.…”

Highlights from the Respiratory Failure and Mechanical Ventilation 2022 Conference

“…Marieke Duiverman talked about the evidence for reduction of exacerbation [22] by telemonitoring during home mechanical ventilation, and pointed out that this subject is still controversial [28][29][30]. Early detection of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation is a prerequisite for timely treatment, which leads to improved outcomes.…”

Breathing better: A tech‐monitored study of positive expiratory pressure and reading aloud for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

“…This can reduce hospitalization and improve patient care through immediate actions. It is argued that measuring these physiological biomarkers using remote monitoring technologies will improve patient self‐management skills and provide patients with greater awareness and control over their condition through feedback of physiological parameters, thereby reducing the economic and clinical burden of COPD (Konstantinidis et al, 2022; Wu et al, 2019).…”