Program of Integrated Care for Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Multiple Comorbidities

Program of Integrated Care for Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Multiple Comorbidities: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Many patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) also have other diseases referred to as comorbidities. Often these patients require health care by a variety of health care professionals from services linked to hospitals and in the community. Unfortunately, sometimes it may be difficult for these patients to receive appropriate care in a timely manner resulting in a trip to the emergency department. As well, patients may benefit from education that enables them to recognize early signs indicating they are getting sicker and to self-manage their disease. Our study will examine a strategy that includes a case manager who will make weekly phone contact with COPD patients with comorbidity that present either to the emergency department or are admitted to hospital. Weekly contact will focus on teaching patients to recognize worsening symptoms and self-management strategies. The case manager will work with patients, caregivers, community health care providers and hospital specialists to promote communication and optimize care delivery. The investigators will examine the impact of our intervention on the need for emergency department visits and hospital admission. The investigators will also examine the impact on patients' health related quality of life, number of COPD exacerbations, and disease progression.

Inclusion Criteria:

• COPD defined as chronic irreversible airflow limitation with FEV1 < lower limit of normal for age as % predicted and a FEV1/FVC ratio < than lower limit of normal (usually 70%) [5]

Plus ≥ 2 comorbidities commonly associated with COPD as identified in the Canadian Thoracic Society COPD guidelines*

1. Cardiovascular disease
2. Osteopenia and osteoporosis
3. Glaucoma and cataracts
4. Cachexia and malnutrition
5. Peripheral muscle dysfunction
6. Lung cancer
7. Metabolic syndrome (diabetes mellitus)
8. Depression
9. Chronic kidney disease OR Other conditions as primary admitting/presenting diagnosis + COPD as significant comorbidity + ≥ 1 other comorbidity

THAT

1. Get admitted to participating hospital; or
2. Present to participating hospital ED; or
3. Have first referral to Respiratory Centre/Respirology team

AND HAVE

1. ≥ 1 ED presentation/hospital admission in previous 12 months
2. ≥ 50 years age

Exclusion Criteria:

1. No access to primary care physician
2. Primary diagnosis of asthma
3. Terminal diagnosis (metastatic disease with a life expectancy of ≤ 6 months)
4. Dementia and absence of family caregiver able to assist with activation of the action plan and feedback on ongoing status and care coordination
5. Uncontrolled psychiatric illness
6. Inability to understand, read, and write English
7. No access to a phone
8. Inability to attend follow up at one of the participating sites