1 research outputs found
Telemonitoring and home hospitalization in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: study TELEPOC.
Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major consumer of healthcare
resources, with most costs related to disease exacerbations. Telemonitoring of patients with COPD
may help to reduce the number of exacerbations and/or the related costs. On the other hand, home
hospitalization is a cost-saving alternative to inpatient hospitalization associated with increased comfort
15 for patients. The results are reported regarding using telemonitoring and home hospitalization for the
management of patients with COPD.
Methods: Twenty-eight patients monitored their health parameters at home for six months. A nurse
remotely revised the collected parameters and followed the patients as programmed. A home care unit
was dispatched to the patients’ home if an alarm signal was detected. The outcomes were compared to
20 historical data from the same patients.
Results: The number of COPD exacerbations during the study period did not reduce but the number of
hospital admissions decreased by 60% and the number of emergency room visits by 38%. On average,
costs related to utilization of healthcare resources were reduced by €1,860.80 per patient per year.
Conclusions: Telemonitoring of patients with COPD combined with home hospitalization may allow for
AQ425 a reduction in healthcare costs, although its usefulness in preventing exacerbations is still unclearpre-print664 K