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A study evaluating the economic impact of adopting home NIV as part of a multifaceted intervention program for severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) revealed positive and promising results for patients, providers and payers1.
Significant decreases in both hospital and payer costs and hospitalization rates for severe COPD1 patients were achieved in the Philips-sponsored study entitled, “Cost Savings from Reduced Hospitalizations with Use of Home Noninvasive Ventilation for COPD.”
COPD presents an increasing challenge to patients and healthcare systems. It’s a major cause of morbidity and mortality, the most common cause for readmissions, and is responsible for substantial increase in healthcare costs. In total, the economic burden of COPD is expected to be $50 billion by 20202. Read more
For COPD patients, staying active and improving exercise tolerance are important to reducing symptoms and risks such as disease progression and exacerbation events. However, the symptoms of COPD, such as breathlessness often make it difficult to exercise. Dr. Teofilo Lee-Chiong, pulmonologist and Chief Medical Liaison, Philips, shares insight on how to help your patients fight dyspnea and stay active.
Q: Why is exercise an important part of a COPD treatment regimen?
Dr. Lee-Chiong: In general, exercise is an important component of pulmonary rehabilitation. Increasing the duration or intensity of exercise could have a positive effect on the benefits of a rehabilitation program and improve the quality of life for COPD patients. Long-term physical activity has been shown to reduce the frequency of hospitalizations3 and exacerbations4.
COPD symptoms, such as breathlessness and exercise intolerance, make participating in everyday activities such as climbing a flight of stairs and even showering difficult for patients. These symptoms progress as the disease advances, leading to inactivity and muscle deconditioning. This can continue in a cycle leading to further inactivity, social isolation, and fear of undertaking any activities that could result in dyspnea.5
Improvements in exercise tolerance have been found to be linked with physiological changes such as improved muscle function, altered breathing pattern (higher tidal volume), and lower breathing frequency that leads to a reduced dead space to tidal volume ratio and thus to a lower ventilatory requirement for exercise.6, 7 With increased exercise tolerance patients have a better chance of being able to complete and enjoy daily activities.
