Mapping of digital health interventions for the self-management of COPD: A systematic review

Introduction: There has been a gradual increase in the burden of COPD on patients, caretakers, and the health system. Digital health interventions for the self-management of COPD help patients to learn and practice the skills necessary to manage their COPD better. Method: We searched PubMed (NCBI), Scopus (Elsevier), Web of Science (Clarivate), and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Wiley) databases from January 1, 2005 to September 30, 2022 and included English language articles that enrolled clinically diagnosed COPD patients of any age with the implementation of digital health intervention for COPD. Result: We identified 3216 records, of which 61 studies were assessed at the full-text screening stage, and 32 met the inclusion criteria. The interventions include patient monitoring, COPD education, physical activity or exercise, pulmonary rehabilitation, inhaler use techniques, breathing exercises, medication management, and counseling. Mobile-based interventions were the preferred mode of delivery of interventions. COPD-related outcomes were measured regarding COPD exacerbations, admissions or readmissions, exercise capacity, lung function, and inhaler use technique. Conclusion: Most studies were conducted in developed countries, but there needs to be more literature on low-to-middle-income countries. The findings of this systematic review would support the development of a smartphone-enabled home-based self-management informatics platform in India.