Telemedicine in chronic lung disease management: progress and prospects

Yoon, Hee-Young; Song, Jin Woo

doi:.0..

Korean J Intern Med > Epub ahead of print

REVIEW

Telemedicine in chronic lung disease management: progress and prospects

Hee-Young Yoon¹, and Jin Woo Song²

¹Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
²Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

Corresponding Author: Jin Woo Song , Tel: +82-2-3010-3993, Fax: +82-2-3010-6968, Email: jwsongasan@gmail.com

Received: March 8, 2025; Revised: June 19, 2025; Accepted: July 8, 2025.

Abstract

Chronic lung diseases, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and interstitial lung disease, contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality worldwide. Telemedicine has emerged as a promising approach for addressing these challenges by enabling remote patient monitoring, virtual consultations, and digital health interventions. Advances in home spirometry, wearable devices, and mobile health applications have improved early detection of disease exacerbations, medication adherence, and patient self-management of chronic lung diseases. Telerehabilitation programs have demonstrated their efficacy in enhancing exercise capacity and quality of life in patients with chronic lung diseases. Despite these advancements, challenges such as disparities in digital access, patient engagement, costs, and regulatory frameworks limit widespread adoption. As telemedicine has become an integral component of respiratory care, further research is required to optimize its implementation, evaluate long-term clinical outcomes, and ensure equitable access to all patients. This review explores the current state of telemedicine in chronic lung disease management, highlights technological innovations, and discusses future directions for enhancing its role in improving patient outcomes.

Keywords: Telemedicine ; Lung diseases ; Pulmonary rehabilitation ; Spirometry ; Home care services