| Title: | Tele Pulmonary Rehabilitation in the COVID-19 Pandemic, the New Normal for COPD Patients. The Impact of Tele-PR on Hospital Admission Rates |
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| Author(s): | M Leitermann B Murray |
| Institution: | Mayo University Hospital and Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland |
| Poster: | Click to view poster |
| Category: | COVID-19 |
| Abstract: | Global best practice guidelines recommend access to a pulmonary rehabilitation programme, as it provides long-term benefits for COPD patient’s, their quality of life and the overall functional abilities. In addition, there is a proven reduction in hospital admission rates (GOLD 2020, HSE 2019, Kjaergaard et al 2020, MacDonnell et al 2019). The current COVID-19 pandemic has focused greater attention on the need to have virtual telerehabilitation/telehealth as part of standard practice and provide “business as usual” (Hollander et al 2020, HPSC 2020). A literature review was undertaken following a comprehensive, and structured search strategy which yielded five studies suitable for review (n = 602) (Bhatt et al 2019, Broadbent et al 2018, Dinesen et al 2012, Rosenbeck Minet et al 2015, Vasilopulou et al 2017). The data analysis indicates that tele-pulmonary rehabilitation appears to provide a reduction in hospital admission rates of COPD patients. In addition, the studies indicate a positive impact on reducing hospital costs and increasing functional/physical assessment scores and medication/inhaler adherence. The current COVID-19 pandemic has focused greater attention on the need to have virtual tele-pulmonary rehabilitation as part of standard practice in the provision of “business as usual”. More studies are necessary to further substantiate these findings prior to the development of standardised, evidence based virtual telepulmonary rehabilitation systems |
