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Telemonitoring feasible for management of patients with congestive HF
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Use of telemonitoring was feasible and associated with high patient satisfaction in a pilot project of low-income, black patients with congestive HF.
Researchers enrolled 15 low-income, black patients (80% men; mean age, 65 years) with congestive HF and reduced ejection fraction < 45% to assess the practicality of telemonitoring. All were randomly selected from a Cleveland Clinic outpatient setting.
All patients received a tablet monitor (Healthcare Access Tablet, BL Healthcare, Inc.), pulse oximeter, BP machine and weight scale. Patients taking multiple medications (average, 10) received adherence reminders from the telemonitoring system, and measurements and vital signs were transmitted via the system to a secure website. The data were assessed by a nurse each day and patients were contacted regarding missed or abnormal parameter readings.
Patients were contacted at 28 days to gauge their satisfaction with the telemonitoring system.
Researchers reported data on 13 patients; one patient could not be contacted and another had a defective telemonitoring system.
On average, BP with heart rate was recorded on 73.7% of days, weight on 62.5% of days and pulse oximetry on 51.5% of days.
Twelve patients completed the satisfaction survey. All said the telemonitoring system was very easy (75%) or easy (75%) to use and would continue to use the system (100%). Eighty-four percent of patients said the telemonitoring system was extremely helpful for increasing medication compliance and 67% said it made them more involved in the management of their congestive HF.
“[Telemonitoring] may identify abnormal vital signs and increase patient’s compliance to medical therapy,” the researchers concluded. “Whether [telemonitoring] is a cost-effective tool to improve clinical outcomes in low-income African American patients with [congestive HF] needs to be proven in larger studies.”
This abstract was originally prepared for presentation at the American Heart Association’s Quality of Care and Outcomes Research Scientific Sessions, which was canceled due to protests and an ongoing state of emergency in Baltimore. – by Stephanie Viguers
Disclosures: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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