A RECENT study assessing the impact of telehealth on patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has found that telehealth-delivered outpatient care does not increase the risk of IBD-related hospitalisations. In fact, higher use of televisit services, via video or phone, was linked to a reduced likelihood of hospitalisation.
The case-control study, conducted between April 2021 and July 2022 within the Veterans Health Administration, examined 1,068 patients. Half of the participants (534) had experienced an IBD-related hospitalisation, while the other half, matched by factors like age, sex, race, and comorbidities, had not. Researchers focused on the percentage of outpatient care delivered through telehealth in the year prior to hospitalisation.
Findings revealed a statistically significant association between increased telehealth use and a reduced risk of hospitalisation. For every 10% increase in telehealth-delivered visits, the odds of hospitalisation decreased by 3% (odds ratio: 0.97, 95% confidence interval: 0.94–1.00; P=0.03).
These results challenge concerns that telehealth may limit opportunities to address complications in patients with complex chronic diseases like IBD. Instead, the study supports telehealth’s effectiveness in managing IBD care and preventing hospitalisations.
The researchers noted that these findings should reassure clinicians that telehealth is a viable option for managing chronic conditions. Telehealth has the potential to complement in-person care, especially in systems like the Veterans Health Administration that serve patients in diverse geographic locations.
As healthcare continues to evolve post-pandemic, these findings may encourage broader adoption of telehealth for chronic disease management, ensuring accessibility while maintaining quality care.
Ada Enesco, EMJ
Reference
Cohen-Mekelburg S et al. Inflammatory bowel disease hospitalizations are similar for patients receiving televisit-delivered outpatient care and those receiving traditional in-person care. Am J Gastroenterol. 2024;119(8):1555-1562.
