Introduction: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
is a leading cause of global morbidity and mortality, with acute exacerbations
frequently resulting in hospitalization and early readmissions. Traditional
management approaches are reactive, focusing on in-hospital care rather than
prevention. The integration of digital health technologies offers a promising
strategy to enhance disease monitoring and reduce healthcare utilization.
Methods: A narrative review was conducted to evaluate the
effectiveness of digital interventions in COPD management. Seventy-three
studies, including systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials, and
observational studies published between 2000 and 2024, were sourced from
PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library. Search terms included “COPD,”
“digital health,” “telemedicine,” “remote monitoring,” and “hospital
readmission.” Inclusion criteria focused on English-language studies with adult
populations and clinical outcomes related to hospitalization or emergency
visits.
Results: Digital interventions such as telemonitoring,
mobile health apps, wearable devices, and AI-driven platforms were consistently
associated with reduced hospital admissions, improved symptom tracking, better
medication adherence, and enhanced patient engagement. However, disparities in
digital access and integration challenges persist. A major obstacle to
disparities in digital access is technological literacy among both patients and
healthcare professionals. Infrastructure disparities, particularly in
low-resource settings, further compound the issue by hindering reliable access
to the internet, devices, and technical support. In addition, the integration
of digital tools with existing healthcare systems is frequently fragmented,
leading to inefficiencies and reluctance among providers to adopt new
workflows.
Conclusion: Digital health technologies have significant
potential to transform COPD care by reducing hospitalizations and promoting
proactive disease management, though equity and implementation barriers must be
addressed.
Recommendations: To maximize the benefits of digital health
in COPD management, healthcare systems should prioritize the integration of
telemonitoring and mobile health solutions into routine care pathways.
Clinicians must be trained in digital tools to support patient adherence and
early detection of exacerbations. Additionally, efforts should focus on
addressing digital literacy and access disparities, particularly among older
adults and underserved populations. Policymakers should invest in
infrastructure and reimbursement models that support the sustainable implementation
of digital health interventions.
Author (s) Details
Vineet Mishra
Department of Health Informatics, Arizona State University,
Arizona, USA.
David Stuckler
Dondena Centre for Research on Social Dynamics, Department of Social &
Political Sciences, Bocconi University, 4 via Roentgen, 20136, Milano, Italy.
Courtney L. McNamara
Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon
Tyne NE2 4AX, UK.
Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/msraa/v6/5553
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