Patient Outcomes in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Impact of Supplemental Co-professional Care on Outcomes: A Parallel-group, Randomized Interventional Study

Background: While sub-optimal patient outcomes in chronic diseases with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) seem quite common, the scope of supplemental co-professional support in reinforcing personalized care and thereby optimizing outcomes has not received much due attention.The present study thus aimed to evaluate patient outcomes in COPD outpatients, in terms of symptom control, avoidance of exacerbations and tolerability, and further explore if co-professional supplemental care could optimize these outcomes, compared with routine care.Methods: A prospective, parallel-group randomized interventional study was carried out on adult COPD patients of either gender, receiving treatment as prescribed in the same OPD, for at least 3 months.Eligible patients were randomized to either the routine care arm or add-on co-professional supplemental care arm.Periodic follow-up assessments of adherence and outcomes were continued in all the patients for 12 months.Results: Male:female ratio in our study was observed to be 3:1.Improvement in COPD staging was observed for both groups at gradual time points.Mean FEV1/FVC values showed marked improvement from baseline over the time period for both groups.A significantly higher improvement (p < 0.001) from baseline values was observed for group II compared with group I at all time points for dyspnea score, COPD (symptoms) assessment test (CAT) score, and mMRC score.Intergroup analysis showed that group II had significantly higher adherence compared with group I at all relevant time points.A gradual and significant steady increase in each quality of life domain was observed for both groups with slightly more increase noticed for group II compared with group I. Conclusion: Through all its efficacy, safety, and quality of life parameters, the study strongly confers that add-on co-professional care may somewhat be more beneficial in terms of improved patient outcomes in comparison to usual care.