The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published draft guidance on digital supported self-management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Seven technologies for COPD management have been approved for use in the NHS under the draft guidance: Lenus Health, Active+me REMOTE, Clinitouch, COPDhub, Luscii, and myCOPD.
Online self-management programme, SPACE for COPD is also approved, but can only be used once it has appropriate regulatory approval.
They have been approved for a three year period, while more evidence is generated, under the Early Value Assessment (EVA) programme, which provides rapid assessment of digital products, devices and diagnostics for supported self-management.
An eighth technology, COPDPredict was approved only for use in research.
COPD is a long-term progressive lung disease that affects more than 1.7 million people across the UK and is the second most common cause of emergency hospital admissions,
NICE says in the EVA draft guidance that there is “a strong case to suggest that using a digital platform to self-manage their COPD would improve outcomes and reduce presentations to emergency services”.
It adds: “Remote monitoring using digital platforms for people with moderate to severe COPD is of primary interest which would empower people with COPD to recognise signs and symptoms of deterioration more accurately, therefore promoting appropriate and timely escalation or appropriate self-care”.
Consultation on the draft EVA guidance opened on 25 June 2024 and will close on 8 July 2024, with an expected publication date of 15 August 2024.
Paul McGinness, chief executive of Lenus Health, which is included in the draft guidance, said: “When combined with our virtual ward capability, this EVA supports both admission avoidance and early discharge in high-risk and less severe groups.
“The EVA means our COPD service for integrated supported self-management will be available for wider adoption across NHS organisations, reducing pressures on the system and improving the lives of thousands of patients.”
Lenus Health’s Treat service offers symptom tracking, self-management tools, education, exercise guidance, remote monitoring and direct access to clinical support for patients with COPD.
The inclusion of Lenus Health in the draft guidance is based on findings of the RECEIVER clinical trial conducted with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, which found that providing patients with a digital support service reduced hospital admissions and days patients spent occupying hospital beds by around 50% each year.
Dr Samantha Walker, director of research and innovation at Asthma + Lung UK, said: “Lung disease is the country’s third biggest killer, and we urgently need the next government to prioritise investment into respiratory research which has sadly stood still.
“We want to see new treatments and better testing to improve outcomes for people with lung conditions like COPD”.
Meanwhile, One Health Lewisham is working with med tech company TidalSense on a six-month pilot, which began in April 2024, to develop educational resources for an AI-powered device to diagnose COPD.