%0 Journal Article
%A Alcazar, Bernardino
%A de Lucas, Pilar
%A Soriano, Joan B
%A Fernández-Nistal, Alonso
%A Fuster, Antonia
%A González-Moro, Jose Miguel Rodríguez
%A Arnedillo, Aurelio
%A Sidro, Patricia García
%A de Los Monteros, María José Espinosa
%T The evaluation of a remote support program on quality of life and evolution of disease in COPD patients with frequent exacerbations.
%D 2016
%U http://hdl.handle.net/10668/10590
%X Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients often present considerable individual medical burden in their symptoms, limitations, and well-being that complicate medical treatment. To improve their overall health status, while reducing the number of exacerbations, a multidisciplinary approach including different elements of care is needed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a remote support program on COPD patients at high risk of experiencing worsening of their disease and other health-related outcomes. An observational, multicenter, prospective study aimed at evaluating the impact of a 7-month remote support program on COPD patients in exacerbations control and changes in health status measured with the COPD assessment test (CAT). Factors associated with a clinically relevant decrease in CAT were assessed using a logistic regression analysis. A total of 114 subjects started the program. The majority of the study population were males (81.6 %), retired (70.2 %), without academic qualifications or with a low level of education (68.4 %), and ex-smokers (79.8 %). The mean ± SD age was 69.6 ± 9.1 years and the BMI was 27.8 ± 5.5 Kg/m2. Overall, 41.9 % (95 % CI 31.9-52.0) patients, significantly improved health status (CAT decrease ≥ 2 points). Univariate analysis showed that significant improvement in CAT was associated with baseline CAT scores [high CAT score 19.2 (±7.5) vs. low CAT score 12.4 (±6.4); OR = 1.15, 95 % CI: 1.07-1.24; p  A remote support program for high-risk COPD patients results in an improvement of the patients' health status, particularly in those with initially poor health status, and it helps to reduce COPD exacerbations.
%K Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
%K Education
%K Exacerbations
%K Management
%K Quality of life
%~