Costs and effects of telerehabilitation in neurological and cardiological diseases: A systematic review

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

Abstract

Introduction: Telerehabilitation in neurological and cardiological diseases is an alternative rehabilitation that improves the quality of life and health conditions of patients and enhances the accessibility to health care. However, despite the reported benefits of telerehabilitation, it is necessary to study its impact on the healthcare system. Methods: The systematic review aims to investigate the costs and results of telerehabilitation in neurological and cardiological diseases. MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched from 2005 to 2021, for studies that assess the costs and results of telerehabilitation compared to traditional rehabilitation (center-based programs) in neurological and cardiological diseases. A narrative synthesis of results was carried out. Results: A total of 8 studies (865 participants) of 430 records were included. Three studies were related to the costs and results of telerehabilitation in neurological diseases (specifically in stroke). In total, five studies assessed telerehabilitation in cardiological diseases (chronic heart failure, coronary heart disease, acute coronary syndrome, and cardiovascular diseases). The duration of the telerehabilitation ranged from 6 to 48 weeks. The studies included cost-analysis, cost-benefit, cost-effectiveness, or cost-utility. In total, four studies found significant cost/savings per person between $565.66 and $2,352.00 (p < 0.05). In contrast, most studies found differences in costs and clinical effects between the telerehabilitation performed and the rehabilitation performed at the clinic. Just one study found quality-adjusted life years (QALY) significant differences between groups [Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) per QALY ($−21,666.41/QALY). Discussion: Telerehabilitation is an excellent alternative to traditional center rehabilitation, which increases the accessibility to rehabilitation to more people, either due to the geographical situation of the patients or the limitations of the health systems. Telerehabilitation seems to be as clinical and cost-effective as traditional rehabilitation, even if, generally, telerehabilitation is less costly. More research is needed to evaluate health-related quality of life and cost-effectiveness in other neurological diseases. Systematic review registration: [https://figshare.com/articles/journal_ contribution/Review_Protocol_Costs_and_effects_of_Telerehabilitation_in_ Neurological_and_Cardiological_Diseases_A_Systematic_Review/19619838], identifier [19619838].

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number832229
Number of pages14
JournalFrontiers in medicine
Volume9 (2022)
Publication statusPublished - 29 Nov 2022
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

Scopus 85144065317
PubMed 36523783
WOS 000898524800001
ORCID /0000-0002-6513-9017/work/142257310
ORCID /0000-0003-2065-8523/work/143958018

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • cardiological diseases, cost-effectiveness, neurological disease, systematic review, telerehabilitation, Systematic review, Telerehabilitation, Neurological disease, Cost-effectiveness, Cardiological diseases

Library keywords