A new telemonitoring system intended for chronic heart failure patients using mobile telephone technology — Feasibility study

• Published in: International journal of cardiology Vol. 153; no. 1; pp. 55 - 58
• Main Authors: Winkler, Sebastian, Schieber, Michael, Lücke, Stephanie, Heinze, Peter, Schweizer, Thomas, Wegertseder, Dominik, Scherf, Michael, Nettlau, Herbert, Henke, Sascha, Braecklein, Martin, Anker, Stefan D, Koehler, Friedrich
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 17.11.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Pressure - physiology; Body Weight - physiology; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cardiovascular; Cell Phone - trends; Chronic Disease; Chronic heart failure; Computers, Handheld - trends; Disease management; Electrocardiogram; Electrocardiography - instrumentation; Electrocardiography - trends; Feasibility Studies; Female; Heart; Heart Failure - diagnosis; Heart Failure - physiopathology; Heart failure, cardiogenic pulmonary edema, cardiac enlargement; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Remote patient monitoring; Telemedicine; Telemedicine - instrumentation; Telemedicine - trends; Telemonitoring; Telemonitoring; Chronic heart failure; Disease management; Telemedicine; Electrocardiogram; Remote patient monitoring; Human; Heart failure; Disease; Telephone; Patient; Cardiovascular disease; Mobile; System; Electrodiagnosis; Chronic; Clinical management; Surveillance; Technology; Heart disease; Electrocardiography; Feasibility; Cardiology; Monitoring
• ISSN: 0167-5273; 1874-1754
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2010.08.038

Abstract Background Remote monitoring is one modality of structured care in chronic heart failure. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of a new wireless telemonitoring system via a mobile phone network. Methods Portable home devices for electrocardiogram, blood pressure, body weight and self-assessment measurements were connected (via Bluetooth®) to a personal digital assistant (PDA) that performs automated encrypted transmission via mobile phone. Two telemedical centres were set-up. Results 30 healthy volunteers were enrolled and followed for 26 days. A total of 4002 single measurements were taken, 133 ± 37 per person. No data was lost or incorrectly allocated. 880 of 937 (94%) of the ECG recordings had sufficient diagnostic quality for rhythm analysis and single beat measurements. 50 continuous ECG-streams (312 min) without disruption were performed. Total system availability was 96.6%, including that of the mobile phone network. Conclusions Mobile phone technology is suitable for continuous and secure medical data transmission. To evaluate the clinical use in chronic heart failure patients, a large multicentre randomized controlled trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00543881) was started.