A Web-Based Telemanagement System for Improving Disease Activity and Quality of Life in Patients With Complex Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Autores de IIS La Fe

• Javier Del Hoyo Francisco

  Autor

• 

  Pilar Nos Mateu

  Autor

• Raquel Faubel Cava

  Autor

• Diana Muñoz Gómez

  Autor

• Guillermo Bastida Paz

  Autor

• Bernardo Valdivieso Martínez

  Autor

• Maria Luisa Correcher Palau

  Autor

• Mariam Aguas Peris

  Autor

Participantes ajenos a IIS La Fe

• Dominguez, David

Grupos

• Enfermedad Inflamatoria Intestinal

• Unidad Mixta de Investigacion en TICs aplicadas a la reingeniería en procesos sociosanitarios (ERPSS)

Abstract

Background: The reported efficacy of telemedicine in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is inconsistent among studies, and data for complex IBD are lacking. Objective: We aimed to evaluate the impact of remote monitoring using a Web system-Telemonitorizacion de la Enfermedad de Crohn y Colitis Ulcerosa or Telemonitoring of Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis (TECCU)-as compared to standard care and telephone care on health outcomes and health care in patients with complex IBD. Methods: We performed a 3-arm randomized controlled trial. Adult patients with IBD who received immunosuppressants and biological agents were recruited from the IBD Unit of a tertiary university hospital. The patients were randomized into groups to receive remote monitoring (G_TECCU), nurse-assisted telephone care (G_NT), or standard care with in-person visits (G_control). All patients completed the study visits at baseline and at 12 and 24 weeks in addition to each type of intervention. The primary outcome was the percentage of patients in remission at 24 weeks. Secondary health outcomes were quality of life, medication adherence, adverse effects, satisfaction, and social activities. Data on the number of outpatient visits and telephone calls, emergency visits, hospitalizations, IBD-related surgeries, and corticosteroid courses were also collected. Results: A total of 63 patients were selected (21 patients in each group). During the study, 90.5% (19/21) of patients in G_control, 95.2% (20/21) in G_NT, and 85.7% (18/21) in G_TECCU were compliant to the intervention. After 24 weeks, the percentage of patients in remission was higher in G_TECCU (17/21, 81%) than in G_NT (14/21, 66.7%) and G_control (15/21, 71.4%). A higher improvement in disease activity was observed in G_TECCU than in G_control in terms of the Harvey-Bradshaw/Mayo (odds ratio=0.12, 95% CI=0.003-2.162, P=.19) and Harvey-Bradshaw/Walmsley (odds ratio=0.11, 95% CI=0.004-1.55, P=.13) indexes. Improvement in disease activity was associated with a larger reduction in fecal calprotectin values in G_TECCU compared to G_control (estimated intervention effect: odds ratio=-0.90; 95% CI=-1.96 to 0.16, P=.11). All completers adhered to treatment in G_TECCU. In addition, the quality of life, social activities, and satisfaction improved in all 3 groups. Although the number of outpatient visits and telephone calls was lower in G_TECCU than in G_NT and G_control, the safety profile was similar in all 3 groups. Conclusions: This pilot clinical trial suggests that the TECCU Web-based system is a safe strategy for improving health outcomes in patients with complex IBD and reducing the use of health care resources.

Keywords

• Crohn disease; e-health; inflammatory bowel disease; information and communication technology; telemedicine; ulcerative colitis