Characteristics, Components, and Efficacy of Telerehabilitation Approaches for People with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Sara Isernia, Chiara Pagliari (), Luca Nicola Cesare Bianchi, Paolo Innocente Banfi, Federica Rossetto, Francesca Borgnis, Monica Tavanelli, Lorenzo Brambilla and Francesca Baglio
Additional contact information
Sara Isernia: IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi ONLUS, 20148 Milan, Italy
Chiara Pagliari: IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi ONLUS, 20148 Milan, Italy
Luca Nicola Cesare Bianchi: IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi ONLUS, 20148 Milan, Italy
Paolo Innocente Banfi: IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi ONLUS, 20148 Milan, Italy
Federica Rossetto: IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi ONLUS, 20148 Milan, Italy
Francesca Borgnis: IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi ONLUS, 20148 Milan, Italy
Monica Tavanelli: IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi ONLUS, 20148 Milan, Italy
Lorenzo Brambilla: IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi ONLUS, 50143 Firenze, Italy
Francesca Baglio: IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi ONLUS, 20148 Milan, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 22, 1-18

Abstract: Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is at the top of the list of non-communicable diseases with related rehabilitation needs. Digital medicine may provide continuative integrated intervention, overcoming accessibility and cost barriers. Methods: We systematically searched for randomized controlled trials on telerehabilitation (TR) in people with COPD to profile the adopted TR strategies, focusing on TR models and the main rehabilitation actions: monitoring and assessment, decision, and feedback. Additionally, a meta-analysis was run to test the TR effect on functional capacity, dyspnea, and quality of life compared to no intervention (NI) and conventional intervention (CI). Results: Out of the 6041 studies identified, 22 were eligible for the systematic review, and 14 were included in the meta-analyses. Results showed a heterogeneous scenario in terms of the TR features. Furthermore, only a small group of trials presented a comprehensive technological kit. The meta-analysis highlighted a significant effect of TR, especially with the asynchronous model, on all outcomes compared to NI. Moreover, a non-inferiority effect of TR on functional capacity and quality of life, and a superiority effect on dyspnea compared to CI were observed. Finally, the studies suggested a high rate of TR adherence and high safety level. Conclusions: TR is an effective strategy to increase and maintain functional capacity, breath, and quality of life in people with COPD. However, a consensus on the essential elements and features of this approach needs to be defined, and the effect of long-term maintenance merits further investigation.

Keywords: telerehabilitation; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; continuity of care; digital medicine; pulmonary; rehabilitation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/22/15165/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/22/15165/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:22:p:15165-:d:975506

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().