Exacerbation action plans for patients with COPD and comorbidities: a randomised controlled trial

This international randomised controlled trial evaluated whether COPD patients with comorbidities, trained in using patient-tailored multidisease exacerbation action plans, had fewer COPD exacerbation days than usual care (UC). COPD patients (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) classification II–IV) with ≥1 comorbidity (ischaemic heart disease, heart failure, diabetes, anxiety, depression) were randomised to a patient-tailored self-management intervention (n=102) or UC (n=99). Daily symptom diaries were completed for 12 months. The primary outcome "COPD exacerbation days per patient per year" was assessed using intention-to-treat analyses. No significant difference was observed in the number of COPD exacerbation days per patient per year (self-management: median 9.6 (interquartile range (IQR) 0.7–31.1); UC: median 15.6 (IQR 3.0–40.3); incidence rate ratio (IRR) 0.87 (95% CI 0.54; 1.39); p=0.546). There was a significantly shorter duration per COPD exacerbation for self-management (self-management: median 8.1 (IQR 4.8–10.1) days; UC: median 9.5 (IQR 7.0–15.1) days; p=0.021), with no between-group differences in the total number of respiratory hospitalisations (IRR 0.76 (95% CI 0.42; 1.35); p=0.348), but a lower probability of ≥1 for respiratory-related hospitalisation compared to UC (relative risk 0.55 (95% CI 0.35; 0.87); p=0.008). No between-group differences were observed in all-cause hospitalisations (IRR 1...
Source: European Respiratory Journal - Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Tags: COPD and smoking Original Articles: COPD Source Type: research