Home oxygen therapy, supported by telehealth, could lead to a significant reduction in hospital readmissions among COPD patients, according to a new analysis of earlier studies.
The research, “Clinical and Cost-Effectiveness of Telehealth-Supported Home Oxygen Therapy on Adherence, Hospital Readmission and Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials,” was published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research.
The researchers conducted a comprehensive search across six medical databases through April 28, 2025, and looked at randomized, controlled trials involving patients with COPD that compared telehealth-supported home oxygen therapy with traditional care. A total of eight studies comprising 1,275 patients with COPD were included.
The analysis found that telehealth-supported home oxygen therapy significantly reduced hospital readmissions and improved quality of life. However, no significant effect was observed on adherence to the oxygen therapy.
Three additional economic evaluations of the data suggested that, although telehealth interventions may incur higher initial costs, they are more likely to result in long-term savings by reducing hospital admissions.
“Tailored interventions that consider patient demographics, combined with supportive policies, may further enhance outcomes,” the researchers wrote.
In addition, they suggested that future research should incorporate economic evaluations to better inform policy decisions regarding telehealth-supported home oxygen therapy.
