The impact on severe exacerbations of establishing a cross-sectorial lung team for patients with COPD at high risk of exacerbating: a pilot study

Abstract

Background: Exacerbation in Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) becomes more frequent with advancing disease severity and often the patients end up being hospitalized. Objective: To evaluate the impact on exacerbations of establishing a cross-sectorial lung team (CLT) for patients with COPD at high risk of exacerbating. Methods: In total, 49 patients with severe COPD were affiliated to a CLT for 6 months. On request from the participants, the CLT was available for telephone calls and home visits day and night to initiate treatment and give advice. Data regarding hospitalizations were collected 3 years prior to the intervention year to predict future numbers of admissions and length of stay. These predictions were compared with the observed data. COPD assessment test (CAT) was conducted before and after intervention. Results: Observed risk of hospitalization (0.54 (95% CI 0.32; 0.90), p = 0.0192)) and length of hospital stay due to COPD (0.41 (95% CI 0.22; 0.76), p = 0.0046)) were significantly lower during the intervention period than predicted. A numerical but non-significant improvement in the total CAT score of 1.10 (95%CI:-0.71;2.91), p = 0.226)) was observed. Conclusion: Affiliation to a CLT seemed to lower the burden of COPD exacerbations in a high-risk population.

ERS International Congress 2022: highlights from the Allied Respiratory Professionals Assembly

“…-The development of an international curriculum for respiratory nursing will provide more effective and safer delivery of care to respiratory patients around the globe; -Under the leadership of the ERS nurses' group Chair, an ICRN was formed after the ERS International Congress 2020 for the development of a harmonised syllabus and curriculum for respiratory nurses, thereby responding to the need for harmonised respiratory nursing education on a global scale. Refsgaard Iversen et al [56] investigated the effect of affiliation with a cross-sectorial lung team (CLT), consisting of respiratory nurses and community nurses. On average, patients affiliated with the CLT had fewer hospitalisations and shorter length of hospital stay compared to usual care [56].…”

“…Refsgaard Iversen et al [56] investigated the effect of affiliation with a cross-sectorial lung team (CLT), consisting of respiratory nurses and community nurses. On average, patients affiliated with the CLT had fewer hospitalisations and shorter length of hospital stay compared to usual care [56].…”

Does affiliation to a cross‐sectorial lung team impact well‐being, health‐related quality of life, symptoms of anxiety and depression and patient involvement in patients with COPD? A randomised controlled trial

“…As this study was a part of a larger project, the sample size calculation was based on data on length of hospital stay related to AECOPD which was a part of the project's primary outcomes [10]. The sample size calculation was measured based on data from the pilot study [28].…”