Review Article

Telemonitoring Interventions in COPD Patients: Overview of Systematic Reviews

Table 1

Characteristics of the included reviews.

First author (years)Databases searchedCountryNo. of RCTs (no. of patients) includedQuality assessment for RCT/non-RCTIntervention (technology)ControlOutcomesStudy type

Youna et al, 2019 [16]Ovid-Medline, Ovid-Embase, Cochrane LibraryKorea27 (3645)Cochrane criteriaTelemonitoring (pulmonologist contact, telephone call, web-based exercise program)Usual care (education self-care, clinical care, home exercises)Mortality, emergency room visits, hospitalization, outpatient visits, length of stay, quality of life (SGRQ).SR and MA

Yang et al, 2018 [17]PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, EmbaseChina6 (391)Cochrane criteriaMobile health applications (smartphones, networking/monitoring systems)Usual careHospitalization, average days of hospitalization, exercise capacity, and activity levelsSR and MA

Ah-Ram et al, 2018 [18]Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHLKorea28 (2891)Cochrane criteriaTelemonitoring (self-management and support program, telerehabilitation intervention, teleconsultation, telecare)Usual care (face-to-face care or telephone consultation)Mortality, exacerbation rate, quality of life (SGRQ)SR and MA

Deng et al, 2018 [19]PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane LibraryChina10 (1037)Cochrane criteriaTelephone support (web-based call, phone calls, self-management education)Usual care (education session, ordinary care)Exercise capacity (6WMD), quality of life (SGRQ)MA

McCabe et al, 2017 [20]CENTRAL, Medline, Embase, CINAHL, AMED, PsycINFOIreland3 (557)Cochrane criteriaWeb 2.0-based interventions (PCs, apps, iPad, Android tablets, smart phones, Skype)Usual care (face-to-face/hard copy/digital documentary educational/self-management support)Hospitalization, exacerbation rate, quality of life (SGRQ), self-efficacy (COPD self-efficacy Scale), cost-effectiveness, exercise capacity (6MWD), lung function (FEV1, FEV1% predicted) anxiety and depression, sustained behavior changeSR and MA

Pedone et al, 2015 [21]PubMedItaly12 (1129)Cochrane criteriaTelemonitoring (web-based call center, video conference, home-telephone line, touch screen equipment)Not reportMortality, hospitalization, emergency room visits, quality of life (SGRQ), patients’ satisfactionSR

Lundell et al, 2015 [22]CENTRAL, PubMed, CINAHL, AMED, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus, PEDroSweden9 (982)Cochrane criteriaTele-healthcare (phone calls, web-based call, phone reminders, Skype)Usual care (optimized medication, ordinary healthcare contacts)Physical activity level, physical capacity (6MWD), dyspneaSR and MA

McLean et al, 2011 [23]CENTRAL, Medline, Embase, CINAHL, AMED, PsycINFOUK12 (1004)Cochrane criteriaTele-healthcare (telephones, video cameras, internet to communicate with a nurse or doctor)Usual care (universal health program, advice face-to-face, education and home visits, standard home healthcare)Mortality, exacerbation rate, quality of life (SGRQ), emergency room visits, hospitalization, lung function (FEV1, FVC), patient satisfaction, study withdrawal, cost, cost-effectivenessSR and MA

SR: systematic review; MA: meta-analysis.