Susan Rydahl-Hansen

Cognitive dysfunction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease--a systematic review.

BACKGROUND Substantial healthcare resources are spent on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In addition, the involvement of patients in monitoring and treatment of their condition has been suggested. However, it is important to maintain a view of self-care that takes differences in cognitive ability into account. The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence and severity of cognitive dysfunction in COPD patients, and to assess the association between severity of COPD and the level of cognitive function. METHODS We conducted a systematic review, and a search in the following databases: Medline, PsychINFO, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, CINAHL, and SweMed up to July 2010. The articles were included if participants were patients with COPD, relevant outcome was cognitive function investigated by a neuropsychological test battery, and the severity of COPD had been assessed. RESULTS Fifteen studies were included, involving 655 COPD patients and 394 controls. Cognitive function was impaired in COPD patients as compared to healthy controls, but the level of functioning was better than in patients with Alzheimers disease. There was a significant association between severity of COPD, as measured by lung function and blood gases, and cognitive dysfunction, but only in patients with severe COPD. CONCLUSIONS Cognitive impairment can be detected in severe COPD patients, but the clinical relevance of the cognitive dysfunction is not yet known. Future studies should concentrate on the consequences of cognitive dysfunction for daily living in these patients, and solutions involving a high degree of self-care might require special support.

Hospital-admitted COPD patients treated at home using telemedicine technology in The Virtual Hospital Trial: methods of a randomized effectiveness trial

BackgroundRecent reviews suggest that telemedicine solutions for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may prevent hospital readmissions and emergency room visits and improve health-related quality of life. However, the studies are few and only involve COPD patients who are in a stable phase or in-patients who are ready for discharge. COPD patients hospitalized with an acute exacerbation may also benefit from telemedicine solutions. The overall aim is to investigate a telemedicine-based treatment solution for patients with acute exacerbation of COPD at home as compared to conventional hospital treatment measured according to first treatment failure, which is defined as readmission due to COPD within 30 days after discharge.MethodsCOPD patients with acute exacerbation who fulfilled the eligibility criteria and were from two university hospitals in Denmark were randomized (1:1) by computer-generated tables that allocated treatments in blocks of four to receive either standard treatment at the hospital or the same standard treatment at home using telemedicine technology (that is, a video conference system with a touch screen and webcam and monitoring equipment (spirometer, thermometer, and pulse oximeter)). Patients treated in the telemedicine group were backed up by an organizational setting securing 24/7/365 online access to the hospital, as well as access to oxygen, nebulizer therapy, oral medical therapy and surveillance of vital parameters from home monitoring devices. Patients in both groups were discharged when clinically stable and when fulfilling five pre-specified discharge criteria. Follow-up was performed at 1, 3 and 6 months after discharge.The primary outcome was treatment failure defined as readmission due to exacerbation in COPD within 30 days. Secondary outcomes were death from any cause, prescription of additional antibiotics or steroids, need of intubation or non-invasive ventilation, emergency room visits, visits to the general practitioner, lung function, bed days, health-related quality of life, healthcare costs and user satisfaction.ResultsEnrollment of patients started in June 2010 and ended in December 2011. Follow-up ended in May 2012. Results were analyzed in 2013.ConclusionsThe results may have implications on future hospital treatment modalities for patients with severe exacerbations in COPD where telemedicine may be used as an alternative to conventional admission.Trial registrationClinical Trials NCT01155856

Telemedicine-based treatment versus hospitalization in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and exacerbation: effect on cognitive function. A randomized clinical trial.

Abstract Objectives: Telemedicine is gaining ground in the treatment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Because telemedicine often requires both participation and engagement of the patients, it is important to take differences in cognitive ability into account, as there is evidence that cognitive dysfunction may be a limitation in patients with severe COPD. The aim of this study was to investigate whether cognitive performance is better after telemedicine-based treatment than after conventional hospitalization in patients with severe COPD and a mild to moderate exacerbation. Materials and Methods: This randomized study was a substudy of the “Virtual Hospital,” a multicenter, randomized controlled trial. The primary outcome in this substudy was cognitive function, evaluated 3 days and 6 weeks after discharge using a neuropsychological test battery comprising four tests and seven variables. Results: We included 44 patients consecutively. Baseline characteristics were as follows: ...

Conditions That Are Significant for Advanced Cancer Patients’ Coping with Their Suffering—as Experienced by Relatives

As long as life could be lived as before patients could cope with their problems. But the progression of the illness challenged feelings and filled life with increasing levels of chaos and feelings of powerlessness. Relatives became involved quite late in the patients’ interaction with the professionals, an interaction that was characterized by lack of continuity and the professionals’ focus on the patients sick body. It was therefore seldom that professionals had insight into the familys resources and need for professional support. This made it more difficult for the family to evaluate, control and cope with their suffering. Instead, patients gradually adapted to the professionals’ and relatives’ priorities and sometimes their control over the increasingly failing and dying body.

Telemedicine based treatment versus hospitalisation in patients with severe COPD and exacerbation – effect on cognitive function.

Abstract Objectives: Telemedicine is gaining ground in the treatment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Because telemedicine often requires both participation and engagement of the patients, it is important to take differences in cognitive ability into account, as there is evidence that cognitive dysfunction may be a limitation in patients with severe COPD. The aim of this study was to investigate whether cognitive performance is better after telemedicine-based treatment than after conventional hospitalization in patients with severe COPD and a mild to moderate exacerbation. Materials and Methods: This randomized study was a substudy of the “Virtual Hospital,” a multicenter, randomized controlled trial. The primary outcome in this substudy was cognitive function, evaluated 3 days and 6 weeks after discharge using a neuropsychological test battery comprising four tests and seven variables. Results: We included 44 patients consecutively. Baseline characteristics were as follows: ...