The following is a summary of “Post-Acute Care Interventions in Patients Hospitalized Due to COPD Exacerbation Before and After Implementation of an Integrated Care Program,” published in the January 2025 issue of Pulmonology by Hübsch et al.
Despite high-quality acute inpatient care for patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) in Switzerland, a significant gap in post-acute care services has been recognized. To address this deficiency, an integrated care program for patients with AECOPD was implemented at University Hospital Zurich.
Researchers conducted a retrospective study to compare the implementation rates of defined post-acute care interventions before and after the new program’s introduction.
They reviewed medical charts for patients hospitalized with AECOPD between July 2019 and March 2023. The control group (CG) received standard care, while the intervention group (IG) received the newly implemented program. Pearson’s chi-squared test or Fisher’s exact test was employed to compare the implementation rates.
The results showed charts from 107 participants [IG]: 55, [CG]: 52 were assessed. Significant increases in implementation rates were observed in the IG for exacerbation management, dyspnea management, rehabilitation recommendations, smoking cessation advice, inhalation technique evaluation, and vaccination recommendations (P < 0.05). However, no significant improvements were found in physical activity, post-discharge medical follow-up, or nutrition.
Investigators concluded the implementation of a hospital-initiated integrated care program significantly improved the uptake of post-acute care interventions among patients hospitalized for AECOPD.
