title: Long-term exercise maintenance in COPD via telerehabilitation: a two-year pilot study.
abstract: Introduction Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is an integral part of the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, many patients do not access or complete PR, and long-term exercise maintenance has been difficult to achieve after PR. This study aimed to investigate feasibility, long-term exercise maintenance, clinical effects, quality of life and use of hospital resources of a telerehabilitation intervention. Methods Ten patients with COPD were offered a two-year follow-up via telerehabilitation after attending PR. The intervention consisted of home exercise, telemonitoring and self-management via a webpage combined with weekly videoconferencing sessions. Equipment included a treadmill, a pulse oximeter and a tablet. Data collected at baseline, one year and two years were six-minute walking distance (6MWD), COPD assessment test (CAT), EuroQol 5 dimensions (EQ-5D), hospitalisations and outpatient visits. Results No dropout occurred. Physical performance, lung capacity, health status and quality of life were all maintained at two years. At one year, 6MWD improved by a mean of 40 metres from baseline, CAT decreased by four points and EQ visual analogue scale (EQ VAS) improved by 15.6 points. Discussion Long-term exercise maintenance in COPD via telerehabilitation is feasible. Results are encouraging and suggest that telerehabilitation can prevent deterioration and improve physical performance, health status and quality of life.
authors.affiliation: 1 University Hospital of North Norway, Norwegian Centre for Integrated Care and Telemedicine, Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zanaboni
authors.affiliation: 1 University Hospital of North Norway, Norwegian Centre for Integrated Care and Telemedicine, Tromsø, Norway.|2 The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Hanne
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hoaas
authors.affiliation: 3 LHL-klinikkene Skibotn, Norway.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aarøen Lien
authors.affiliation: 2 The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.|4 University Hospital of North Norway, Heart and Lung Clinic, Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Audhild
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hjalmarsen
authors.affiliation: 1 University Hospital of North Norway, Norwegian Centre for Integrated Care and Telemedicine, Tromsø, Norway.|2 The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wootton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010865:Pilot Projects; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods; D000069350:Telerehabilitation / Q000379:methods*; D049269:Videoconferencing
keywords: COPD; exercise; home monitoring; pulmonary rehabilitation; telemedicine