The implication of telehealthcare in COPD management of China

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a very common disease all around the world and has become an increasing public health concern to the Chinese medical community. In the past decades, telehealthcare technology has become a good way to manage COPD but current evidence makes it hard to determine the effectiveness of this technology. Internet of things (Iot) is a recent breakthrough in communication technology, which links the virtual world to the real world through connection between sensors and working devices. It relates people and items in any ways so that data collection and management become more flexible. Our review concentrates on the effectiveness and potential application of telehealthcare in COPD management and how IoT technology may stimulate COPD healthcare delivery through telehealthcare technology.

Keywords::

• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Internet of things
• telehealthcare

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Key issues

• • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is very common around the world and has become an increasingly important public health concern in China.

• • In the past decade, telehealthcare was perceived as a good way to manage the burden of COPD.

• • Current evidence suggests that telehealthcare is acceptable and feasible to COPD patients. Nevertheless, more evidence is needed to clarify its efficacy in healthcare utilization, cost reduction and quality of life in COPD patients.

• • The Internet of things, a major breakthrough in information technology, is regarded as a promising approach to improve the quality, efficiency and management of telehealthcare delivery.

• • The Internet of things technology has been put into practice in some hospitals in China.

Notes

COPD: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; QoL: Quality of life. service