1011 - A home-based pulmonary telerehabilitation using a digital healthcare system: a pilot study

Objectives: This study aimed to present a home-based pulmonary telerehabilitation using a digital healthcare system and its effectiveness.

Design: The pilot study was a multi-center and pre-post interventional study. Twenty-two eligible patients with respiratory disease were recruited from two tertiary rehabilitation centers. The home-based PR program included 8 resistance exercises, with each exercise being repeated 5-7 times per set, 22-24 sets per session, 3 sessions per week over a 4-week period. Patients received a hardware to capture users’ movements in real time and performed the prescribed exercise while watching the guide video. After the exercise session, patients also obtain real-time feedback, accuracy and completeness on screen. Before and after the program, they were interviewed about baseline characteristics and completed self-report questionnaires on the EuroQol-5 dimension (EQ-5D). Researchers assessed skeletal muscle mass using bioelectrical impedance analysis, physical status using grip strength test, 6-minute walk test, 30-second sit to stand test and timed get up and go test (TUG), and muscle strength using isotonic device. Patients also performed cardiopulmonary exercise test.

Results: Twenty-one patients completed the program. The mean mobility EQ-5D subscale significantly improved from 1.52±0.51 to 1.29±0.46 (p=0.025) and mean MRC score showed a decreasing tendency from 1.33±0.80 to 1.05±0.59. Significant improvement was observed in TUG from 9.77±2.22 to 9.19±2.30 seconds (p=0.017). There was a significant improvement in knee extensor strength from 88.64±30.29 to 94.61±31.02N in average force (p=0.012), from 135.17±65.04 to 146.69±65.46N in maximal force (p=0.019). In cardiopulmonary exercise test, ventilatory threshold significantly increased from 12.71±4.32 to 16.09±4.49 (p=0.013).

Conclusions: The results of this study showed that the home-based pulmonary tele-rehabilitation using a digital healthcare system was effective in improving symptoms and lower extremity muscle strength and might be useful in overcoming the barriers of conventional PR.