ESC: Remote monitoring programs reduce admissions, length of stay
Remote monitoring programs for patients diagnosed with heart failure (HF) can reduce HF hospital admissions, cardiovascular events and length of stay, according to a study presented at the European Society of Cardiology’s Heart Failure Congress 2010 in Berlin May 29-June 1.
Mar Domingo, MD, of the Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital in Badalona, Spain, and colleagues conducted the CARME (Catalan Remote Management Evaluation) trial to assess the effectiveness of a one-year remote patient management program for 92 HF patients during 2008-2009.
During the trial, patients were randomized into two groups: 51 patients who were managed by a home monitoring system (Motiva; Philips Healthcare) without measurement devices and 41 patients who were measured by the home monitoring system and telemonitoring of blood pressure, pulse rate and weight.
Patients enrolled in the study were NYHA Class II and III and had an average age of 65; 71 percent were men.
After a 12-month follow-up, study results showed that the rate of cardiovascular hospitalizations decreased from 54 (28 HF; 26 other CV) cases to 20 (9 HF and 11 other CV events) cases. In addition, HF hospitalizations were reduced by 67.8 percent and CV admissions by 57.6 percent.
While researchers did not find a significant reduction in hospitalizations between the two groups, length of stay declined from 646 days with 259 cases of HF and 387 CV to 168 days with 69 cases of HF, 33 home-hospitalizations and 66 CV cases.
Three patients died during the study.
“Improved organization of HF care with HF units or programs have a major impact on HF hospitalizations,” the authors wrote. “On the other hand, interest in telemedicine as a way of providing care is gradually increasing due to advances in technology and to the wider availability of patient-friendly equipment.”
The study was funded by the EU-MyHeart research project, headed by Philips Healthcare.
Mar Domingo, MD, of the Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital in Badalona, Spain, and colleagues conducted the CARME (Catalan Remote Management Evaluation) trial to assess the effectiveness of a one-year remote patient management program for 92 HF patients during 2008-2009.
During the trial, patients were randomized into two groups: 51 patients who were managed by a home monitoring system (Motiva; Philips Healthcare) without measurement devices and 41 patients who were measured by the home monitoring system and telemonitoring of blood pressure, pulse rate and weight.
Patients enrolled in the study were NYHA Class II and III and had an average age of 65; 71 percent were men.
After a 12-month follow-up, study results showed that the rate of cardiovascular hospitalizations decreased from 54 (28 HF; 26 other CV) cases to 20 (9 HF and 11 other CV events) cases. In addition, HF hospitalizations were reduced by 67.8 percent and CV admissions by 57.6 percent.
While researchers did not find a significant reduction in hospitalizations between the two groups, length of stay declined from 646 days with 259 cases of HF and 387 CV to 168 days with 69 cases of HF, 33 home-hospitalizations and 66 CV cases.
Three patients died during the study.
“Improved organization of HF care with HF units or programs have a major impact on HF hospitalizations,” the authors wrote. “On the other hand, interest in telemedicine as a way of providing care is gradually increasing due to advances in technology and to the wider availability of patient-friendly equipment.”
The study was funded by the EU-MyHeart research project, headed by Philips Healthcare.