An intervention that involved long-term self-management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may increase COPD-related hospitalizations, according to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Researchers conducted the study in Baltimore, with 240 patients hospitalized with COPD. The patients were divided into two groups: one group of 120 patients underwent the intervention, while the others received the usual treatment. The researchers followed up with the patients for six months after hospital discharge, ending in December 2016.
The intervention involved a comprehensive three-month program to help patients and their caregivers with long-term self-management of COPD. Nurses with special training on supporting patients with COPD used standardized tools to help with long-term self-management. The patients in the usual treatment group received transition support for 30 days after discharge.
Of the 240 patients included, 203 completed the study.
Researchers found that the mean number of COPD-related acute care events per participant at six months was higher in the intervention group than in the usual treatment group. There were 339 total COPD-related hospitalizations, of which 202 occurred among patients in the intervention group and 137 occurred in the usual treatment group.