Interactive monitoring service and COPD: is it possible to reduce nonadherence?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) represents one of the main causes of death worldwide. It affects hundreds of millions of people and is likely to spread further in the coming years. Despite the chronic nature of the disease and the proven efficacy of current therapies, treatment nonadherence is unfortunately common and too often related to treatment failure, disease exacerbations, hospitalizations, and high healthcare costs. At present, studies aimed to assess and improve patients' adherence in chronic respiratory diseases-and especially in COPD-are limited, but a review of the few data available makes it clear that there is a need for an innovative approach that leverages health technology to encourage patients to adhere to prescribed chronic treatments.