Neuropsychological and cognitive dysfunctions in COPD patients are a significant problem with consequences for the patients such as dependency of help to basic daily activities, increased symptom experience and poor compliance with medical treatment.

Whether optimizing the treatment in relation to telecare and medicine (virtual admission) improves COPD patients´ cognitive function and management of daily life is not previously investigated.

The aim of this study is to investigate COPD patients´ cognitive function and daily life after virtual admission compared to conventional hospital admission.

This study is a sub study to the randomized controlled multicenter trial The virtual hospital, investigating the feasibility and safety of a telemedicine based treatment regimen in COPD patients, compared to conventional hospital treatment.

In this sub study we consecutively include 150 randomized patients from the Virtual Hospital study. Primary outcome is cognitive function investigated with a neuropsychological test battery, three days and 3 months after discharge.

The secondary outcome (daily life) is investigated by questionnaires examining: self-estimated cognitive function, self-efficacy, activities of daily life, health related quality of life, anxiety and depression, three days, and also three and six months after discharge.

The results will contribute to a clarification of which care and treatment form that causes fewest neuropsychological complications and in that way improves the COPD patients´ functioning in daily life. The results will furthermore improve the health professionals’ possibility to organize an individualized care and treatment program that is efficient for the patients.