Are COPD self-management mobile applications effective? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

The burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to patients and health services is steadily increasing. Selfmanagement supported by mobile device applications could improve outcomes for people with COPD. Our aim was to synthesize evidence on the effectiveness of mobile health applications compared with usual care. A systematic review was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials. Outcomes of interest included exacerbations, physical function, and Quality of Life (QoL). Where possible, outcome data were pooled for meta-analyses. Of 1709 citations returned, 13 were eligible trials. Number of exacerbations, quality of life, physical function, dyspnea, physical activity, and self-efficacy were reported. Evidence for effectiveness was inconsistent between studies, and the pooled effect size for physical function and QoL was not significant. There was notable variation in outcome measures used across trials. Developing a standardized outcome-reporting framework for digital health interventions in COPD self-management may help standardize future research.npj Primary Care Respiratory Medicine (2020) 30:11 ; https://doi.

Effectiveness of a Mobile Health and Self-Management App for High-Risk Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Daily Clinical Practice: Mixed Methods Evaluation Study

“…Mobile apps are increasingly being used to provide patients with health and self-management interventions, for example, for remote monitoring of patients’ health status [ 15 - 17 ], self-report of symptoms or health status [ 16 - 18 ], education [ 16 , 19 ], and digital support or feedback [ 15 , 17 , 18 ]. This is often combined with feedback from a health care professional or automated via the app [ 17 - 19 ].…”

Assessing the Usefulness of the Prevexair Smartphone Application in the Follow-Up High-Risk Patients with COPD

“…Several systematic reviews have showed that mobile device applications are effective for the self-management of COPD over usual care although there is insufficient evidence to date due to marked variation in methodology and reporting of outcome measures. 15,16 Therefore, further clinical validation remains essential to use mHealth in improving COPD care.…”

“…However, the value of monitoring physiological parameters to predict exacerbations 15 and also the effectiveness of mobile health applications compared with usual care are controversial. 16 …”

“…However, the value of monitoring physiological parameters to predict exacerbations 15 and also the effectiveness of mobile health applications compared with usual care are controversial. 16 In recent years, a greater insight of exacerbations has emerged, largely from the use of manual or electronic symptom diary cards. 17,18 The electronic diaries have shown foster the adoption of patient-reported outcomes and symptom-based measures in clinical studies in COPD.…”

Which functional outcome measures can we use as a surrogate for exercise capacity during remote cardiopulmonary rehabilitation assessments? A rapid narrative review

“…To this end, recently we have seen the emergence of new programme formats that aim to improve access and uptake, including tele-rehabilitation and other home-based models. However, the evidence base for remotely delivered rehabilitation is not secure particularly in older patients with COPD [ 6 ]. Patient experience with remotely delivered healthcare is variable and will only be relevant for those who can access and engage with the technology [ 7 , 8 ].…”