What is COPD?

COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) is a general term which includes the conditions chronic bronchitis and emphysema. It mainly affects people over the age of 40 and is usually caused by smoking or is most prevalent in cities with an industrial background. A flare-up (exacerbation) of COPD is one of the commonest reasons for admission to hospital.

Key Facts

  • 600m people worldwide have COPD and it is the 4th leading cause of death
  • Quality of life (QoL) is severely affected with 80% of patients hospitalised following an exacerbation
  • 35% of patients with COPD are re-admitted after discharge
  • About one million people in the UK have COPD
  • UK has one of the highest death rates from COPD in Europe – about 30,000 pa
  • COPD costs NHS £818m and one million inpatient days pa (COPD Audit 2004)

Symptoms of COPD:

  • Breathlessness
  • Coughing (with sputum), cough attacks
  • Weight loss (breathing problems often results in reduced meal sizes)
  • Increased infections (decreased immune response)
  • Fatigue and lack of concentration

Sources and further reading

COPD - disease management sheet

http://www.internationalcopd.org/materials/patients/learn/facts.aspx
http://acutemed.co.uk/diseases/COPD

How does telehealth help patients with COPD?

Tunstall’s telehealth monitors are designed to collect vital signs from devices such as pulse oximeters, blood pressure monitors, temperature and spirometers. In addition to the vital signs monitoring, the mymedic and mymedic plus telehealth monitors can ask patients symptomatic questions to support the clinical staff when evaluating the patient. This can be a very important factor regarding COPD patients. Subjective symptoms such as the degree of breathlessness (is it getting worse?), coughing and presence and colour of sputum (changes in colour) are important signs when recognising an acute exacerbation.

Measuring vital signs and answering symptomatic questions can also help the patients to become more aware of their own symptoms and thereby help them to react to their symptoms much earlier and thereby avoid worsening of the disease.

COPD patients using telehealth have experienced reductions in anxiety, feeling of being more engaged in their own health and understand how to control their condition.

Suggested care packages

COPD, COPD+, COPD advanced

Telehealth Solutions

Case study extract

“Because my COPD is so acute my sister has been caring for me every day for 3 years, but now I have telehealth and my sister knows that the nurse is looking at my readings every day, and that they will come if there is a problem, she has had her first holiday in 3 years.” Mrs R, COPD patient

NHS Sheffield COPD telehealth scheme – Printed Case study – Mini Film
NHS Swindon COPD telehealth scheme – Printed Case Study – Mini Film
Sheffield case study
SheffieldCOPD.wmv
Swindon case study.pdf

Solutions

View - mymedic and icp triagemanger solutions sheet