Methods

The ERS Task Force consisted of 20 members, including a patient representative and her caregiver. The Task Force addressed five PICO questions and three narrative questions. Systematic searches were performed in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, CINAHL. Evidence was synthesized by conducting meta-analyses, when possible, or when not, narratively. Certainty of evidence was rated with GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation). The "evidence-to-decision" framework was used to decide on the direction and formulate strengths of recommendations.

Results

The panel makes a conditional recommendation for the initiation of HMV with telemedicine in patients with neuromuscular diseases and in patients with COPD. No recommendation could be made for obesity hypoventilation syndrome. The panel conditionally recommends the use of telemedicine for the follow-up of patients on HMV, although could not make recommendations on parameters to be monitored. Suggestions were mainly based on theoretical benefits and patient preferences, as our confidence in the evidence was low.

Conclusions

With these guidelines, clinical practice recommendations are provided for the use of telemedicine in HMV. Technological advances and the use of advanced data processing algorithms and artificial intelligence were identified as drivers for future research and telemedicine use.