Given the overlap in risk factors (smoking, low movement and aging) heart failure and chronic lung disease COPD often occur jointly. Because the symptoms (shortness of breath, fatigue) are often similar, the distinction in practice is difficult. The common co-morbidity of these diseases remains unnoticed. In order to improve diagnosis and treatment of heart failure and COPD, closer cooperation between general practitioner, pulmonologist and cardiologist is required. E-health can be used for monitoring, coaching and the long-term screening of these patients.
To increase the responsibility and independence of patients and reduce the cost of treatment, e-health is used - especially complementary to existing care. Brunner-La Rocca believes that this is only the beginning of many possibilities of e-health. An example of this is a virtual nurse, who provides monitoring, coaching and feedback. E-health can also be part of the screening of the patient, thus contributing to the detection of conditions. According to Franssen, a note must be placed at the target group to be reached. "People who easily use apps or other applications are often already well-reachable. You just want to help the people who are the most difficult to manage. "Therefore, direct medical guidance will be needed.
The doctors are convinced of the importance of better diagnostics. This task lies with specialists, but also general practitioners, who, according to Brunner-La Rocca, can have an umbrella function. It begins with consciousness and alertness. For the future, doctors expect clear guidelines, but for now a protocol for faster detection of co-morbidity is missing. Patients share risk factors such as smoking, low movement and high age. Also, one disease increases the risk to another. However, every heart patient investigates lung disorders or vice versa would be unprofitable. Therefore, therapists should primarily investigate the complaints. Often the diagnosed diagnosis does not explain the severity or combination of complaints. In case of suspicions of co-morbidity, further research is required and should be looked beyond the own department, and this is not always easy. Sometimes reasons such as lack of time or financial incentives do not refer to.
Cooperation is essential, but is currently in the hands of local initiatives, says Franssen. "It's just what an enthusiastic pulmonologist or cardiologist walks around." Wider set-up and regulated collaboration is the goal for the future. To this end, GPs, patient associations, insurers and specialists need to put their heads together. This is necessary according to Brunner-La Rocca. "We are talking about the relationship between two diseases, but there may also be five or ten. Multi-morbidity is becoming increasingly evolving with an aging population and cuts in care. "
Longarts Frits Franssen of the MUMC + saw many COPD patients whose degree of complaints was only partly explained by their reduced lung function. In further investigation, about 20 percent of patients with COPD also found heart failure. At the same hospital, cardiologist Hans-Peter Brunner-La Rocca addressed this same problem; High percentages of patients with heart failure were also found to have COPD. This has often been overlooked. After diagnosing the first diagnosis, another disease with the same symptoms is not immediately considered. According to Franssen, this is the pitfall. "Therefore, you should always think about whether complaints correspond to the diagnosed condition." If indeed co-morbidity occurs, complaints will not be resolved when both diseases are addressed. And that is very important for the patients. Brunner-La Rocca: "The quality of life is disproportionately affected in people with both conditions."
To increase the responsibility and independence of patients and reduce the cost of treatment, e-health is used - especially complementary to existing care. Brunner-La Rocca believes that this is only the beginning of many possibilities of e-health. An example of this is a virtual nurse, who provides monitoring, coaching and feedback. E-health can also be part of the screening of the patient, thus contributing to the detection of conditions. According to Franssen, a note must be placed at the target group to be reached. "People who easily use apps or other applications are often already well-reachable. You just want to help the people who are the most difficult to manage. "Therefore, direct medical guidance will be needed.
COPD And Heart Failure Diagnosis
The doctors are convinced of the importance of better diagnostics. This task lies with specialists, but also general practitioners, who, according to Brunner-La Rocca, can have an umbrella function. It begins with consciousness and alertness. For the future, doctors expect clear guidelines, but for now a protocol for faster detection of co-morbidity is missing. Patients share risk factors such as smoking, low movement and high age. Also, one disease increases the risk to another. However, every heart patient investigates lung disorders or vice versa would be unprofitable. Therefore, therapists should primarily investigate the complaints. Often the diagnosed diagnosis does not explain the severity or combination of complaints. In case of suspicions of co-morbidity, further research is required and should be looked beyond the own department, and this is not always easy. Sometimes reasons such as lack of time or financial incentives do not refer to.
Cooperation is essential, but is currently in the hands of local initiatives, says Franssen. "It's just what an enthusiastic pulmonologist or cardiologist walks around." Wider set-up and regulated collaboration is the goal for the future. To this end, GPs, patient associations, insurers and specialists need to put their heads together. This is necessary according to Brunner-La Rocca. "We are talking about the relationship between two diseases, but there may also be five or ten. Multi-morbidity is becoming increasingly evolving with an aging population and cuts in care. "
Living With COPD And Heart Failure
Longarts Frits Franssen of the MUMC + saw many COPD patients whose degree of complaints was only partly explained by their reduced lung function. In further investigation, about 20 percent of patients with COPD also found heart failure. At the same hospital, cardiologist Hans-Peter Brunner-La Rocca addressed this same problem; High percentages of patients with heart failure were also found to have COPD. This has often been overlooked. After diagnosing the first diagnosis, another disease with the same symptoms is not immediately considered. According to Franssen, this is the pitfall. "Therefore, you should always think about whether complaints correspond to the diagnosed condition." If indeed co-morbidity occurs, complaints will not be resolved when both diseases are addressed. And that is very important for the patients. Brunner-La Rocca: "The quality of life is disproportionately affected in people with both conditions."