Acceptance and cost-effectiveness of telemedicine in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: a single-center randomized controlled trial

This study explores the treatment acceptance rate and cost-effectiveness of the telemedicine model in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of adult patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Patients admitted to the sleep center for snoring were randomly divided into telemedicine and control groups. The acceptance rate of the auto-adjusted positive airway pressure (APAP) treatment, cost of patient visits, cost of time, and labor cost of doctors in the two groups were observed. A total of 57 subjects were included, with an average age of 40.12±11.73 years, including 47 males (82.5%); 26 of whom were in the telemedicine group and 31 in the control group. Follow-up results showed that the acceptance rate of APAP treatment was 57.7% and 54.8% in the telemedicine and control groups, respectively, with no significant difference between the two groups (p=0.829). The cost-benefit analysis showed that, the telemedicine group spent less time on transportation, accommodation, missed work time, and doctor’s room diagnosis and treatment than the control group, but increased the extra intervention frequency and time outside the doctor’s office. Further analysis showed that male subjects of older age, higher education level, distant residence, and higher OSA severity were more likely to receive telemedicine diagnosis and treatment. The APAP treatment acceptance rate and compliance of OSA patients in the telemedicine group were similar to those in the control group, and ...
Source: European Respiratory Journal - Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Tags: Clinical and epidemiological respiratory sleep medicine Source Type: research