Do clinical outcomes following telerehabilitation differ by gender in people with COPD?

Chronic respiratory diseases, in particularly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), are a leading cause of death and disability globally. Historically a condition that predominantly affected men, the increasing symptom, health and social burden of COPD in women is now recognised. There is now emerging evidence of gender differences in terms of diagnosis, physiology, presentation and response to treatment in people with COPD. Pulmonary rehabilitation is a core component of the non-pharmacological management of COPD, and can be effectively and safely delivered remotely via telehealth (i.e. telerehabilitation). There is some evidence that gender may influence interest and comfort in receiving care delivered via telehealth. The extent to which the benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation delivered via telehealth may differ by gender are not clear. This project will make use of existing clinical outcome data to describe any differences in telerehabilitation outcomes, by gender, which may be apparent.