• Karin M M Lemmens, Lidwien C Lemmens, José H C Boom, Hanneke W Drewes, Jolanda A C Meeuwissen, Lotte M G Steuten, Hubertus J M Vrijhoef, and Caroline A Baan.
• Senior Researcher, Institute of Health Policy and Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands Senior Researcher Researcher, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Centre for Prevention and Health Services Research, Bilthoven, The Netherlands PhD Student/Researcher, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Centre for Prevention and Health Services Research, Bilthoven, The Netherlands and Department of Integrated Care, TRANZO, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands Senior Researcher, Trimbos Institute, Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction, Utrecht, The Netherlands Senior Researcher, Health Technology and Services Research, University of Twente, Enschede,The Netherlands Professor, Department of Integrated Care, TRANZO, Tilburg University, Tilburg, the Netherlands and Senior Researcher, Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI) and Department of Integrated Care, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands Senior Researcher, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Centre for Prevention and Health Services Research, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
• J Eval Clin Pract. 2013 Oct 1; 19 (5): 734-52.

Rationale, Aims And ObjectivesClinical diversity and methodological heterogeneity exists between studies on chronic care management. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of chronic care management in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) while taking heterogeneity into account, enabling the understanding of and the decision making about such programmes. Three investigated sources of heterogeneity were study quality, length of follow-up, and number of intervention components.MethodsWe performed a review of previously published reviews and meta-analyses on COPD chronic care management. Their primary studies that were analyzed as statistical, clinical and methodological heterogeneity were present. Meta-regression analyses were performed to explain the variances among the primary studies.ResultsGenerally, the included reviews showed positive results on quality of life and hospitalizations. Inconclusive effects were found on emergency department visits and no effects on mortality. Pooled effects on hospitalizations, emergency department visits and quality of life of primary studies did not reach significant improvement. No effects were found on mortality. Meta-regression showed that the number of components of chronic care management programmes explained present heterogeneity for hospitalizations and emergency department visits. Four components showed significant effects on hospitalizations, whereas two components had significant effects on emergency department visits. Methodological study quality and length of follow-up did not significantly explain heterogeneity.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated that COPD chronic care management has the potential to improve outcomes of care; heterogeneity in outcomes was explained. Further research is needed to elucidate the diversity between COPD chronic care management studies in terms of the effects measured and strengthen the support for chronic care management.© 2011 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

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