
Video-based telehealth helps better address chronic diseases like diabetes, asthma, COPD in the long run: Study
Video-based telemedicine is found benefiting patients of chronic diseases such as diabetes, asthma, COPD and heart ailments in the lung run. A study conducted by Jordan A. Albritton, a research focused public health analyst at RTI International, and his team found that video-based telehealth is as safe and effective as in-person care and in some cases it provides better results in the long run. The study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, studied chronic diseases such as diabetes, asthma, COPD heart failure and pain management to find that in 6 cases, one or more primary outcomes favored the video telehealth group over the usual care group. Dr Albittron said, “The findings generally show that video telehealth results in outcomes that are just as good as, and in some cases, better than usual care,” highlighting the need for more reforms as the situation of COVID-19 has paralysed the health systems in several countries”. While accepting the limitations of the study, the researchers pointed out the need for further research in assessing more medical conditions, particularly in infants and the
immunocompromised.