Table 1.
Main characteristics of our studied population.
| Variables | Conventional follow-up (CFUG) | Telemedicine (TMG) | p |
|---|---|---|---|
| N = 73 | N = 25 | ||
| Sex | |||
| Male | 52 (71.23%) | 18 (72.00%) | 0.942 |
| Female | 21 (28.77%) | 7 (28.00%) | |
| Age (years) | 76.75 (±9.88) | 72.08 (±7.34) | 0.034 |
| Smoker | |||
| Current | 20 (27.40%) | 1 (4.00%) | 0.014 |
| Former | 53 (72.60%) | 24 (96.00%) | |
| Flow obstruction (GOLD) | |||
| Mild | 1 (1.37%) | – | 0.020 |
| Moderate | 32 (43.84%) | 7 (28.00%) | |
| Severe | 31 (42.47%) | 16 (64.00%) | |
| Very severe | 9 (12.33%) | 2 (8.00%) | |
| Dyspnea (mMRC) | |||
| 1 | 19 (26.03%) | 3 (12.00%) | 0.206 |
| 2 | 23 (31.51%) | 11 (44.00%) | |
| 3 | 28 (38.36%) | 8 (32.00%) | |
| 4 | 3 (4.11%) | 3 (12.00%) | |
| COPDE (episodes in the 12 last months) | 2.42 (±2.21) | 2.64 (±2.37) | 0.681 |
| Severe COPDE | 2.12 (±2.11) | 1.72 (±1.46) | 0.382 |
| Bacterial isolation in sputum (12 last months) | 28 (38.36%) | 8 (32.00%) | 0.569 |
| Inhalator therapy | |||
| LAMA or LABA | 2 (2.74%) | – | 0.236 |
| LABA–LAMA | 5 (6.85%) | 2 (8.00%) | |
| LABA–ICs | 9 (12.33%) | – | |
| LABA–LAMA–ICs | 57 (78.08%) | 23 (92.00%) | |
| Long term oxygen therapy | 45 (61.64%) | 16 (64.00%) | 0.834 |
| Home – non invasive ventilation | 11 (15.07%) | 6 (24.00%) | 0.309 |
| GOLD classification | |||
| A | 6 (8.22%) | – | 0.401 |
| B | 9 (12.33%) | 4 (16.00%) | |
| C | 13 (17.81%) | 3 (12.00%) | |
| D | 45 (61.64%) | 18 (72.00%) | |
| COPDE managed in the emergency department | 19 (26%) | 4 (16%) | 0.307 |
| COPD admissions | 17 (23.28%) | 5 (20%) | 0.734 |
| Length of stay (days) | 7.12 (±3.85) | 7.8 (±7.95) | 0.789 |
| Total COPDE evaluation ending in a admission | 89.7% | 28.41%a | <0.01 |
LAMA: long-acting anticholinergic; LABA: long-acting beta agonists; ICs: inhaled corticosteroids.
a
We also take on account the physical evaluations made at DH (N = 13) plus 4 in the ED: 17 COPDE evaluations in total in our TMG.