Impact of a Home Telehealth Program After a Hospitalized COPD Exacerbation: A Propensity Score Analysis

Introduction: Currently there is lack of data regarding the impact of a home telehealth program on readmissions and mortality rate after a COPD exacerbation-related hospitalization. Objective: To demonstrate if a tele-monitoring system after a COPD exacerbation admission could have a favorable effect in 1-year readmissions and mortality in a real-world setting. Methods: This is an observational study where we compared an intervention group of COPD patients treated after hospitalization that conveyed a telehealth program with a followance period of 1 year with a control group of patients evaluated during one year before the intervention began. A propensity-score analyses was developed to control for confounders. The main clinical outcome was 1-year all-cause mortality or COPD-related readmission. Results: The analysis comprised 351 telemonitoring patients and 495 patients in the control group. The intervention resulted in less mortality or readmission after 12 months (35.2% vs. 45.2%; hazard ratio [HR] 0.71 [95% CI = 0.56 & ndash;0.91]; p = 0.007). This benefit was maintained after the propensity score analysis (HR = 0.66 [95% CI = 0.51-0.84]). This benefit, which was seen from the first month of the study and during its whole duration, is maintained when mortality (HR = 0.54; 95% CI = [0.36-0.82]) or readmission (subdistribution hazard ratio [SHR] 0.66; 95% CI = [0.50-0.86]) are analyzed separately. Conclusion: Telemonitoring after a severe COPD exacerbation is associated with less mortality or readmissions at 12 months in a real world clinical setting. (C) 2020 SEPAR. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study aimed to investigate the impact of a tele-monitoring system on 1-year readmissions and mortality after a COPD exacerbation-related hospitalization. The results showed that telemonitoring can reduce mortality and readmissions, and this effect was maintained throughout the study.