Heart failure and telemedicine: where are we and where are we going? Opportunities and critical issues

Abstract

Heart failure (HF) is one of the main causes of morbidity in the world and is responsible for an enormous amount of health costs, mostly due to hospitalizations. The remote control techniques of vital signs and health status have the potential to help prevent factors leading to HF instability by stimulating early therapeutic interventions. The goal of telemedicine is to change the intervention strategy from a ‘reactive’ type, in which therapy is optimized in response to the worsening of symptoms, to a ‘pro-active’ type, in which therapeutic changes are undertaken based on changes in the monitored parameters during the sub-clinical phase. This article is aimed at exploring the major results obtained by telemedicine application in HF patients with and without cardiac electronic devices or in those with haemodynamic sensors and to analyse the critical issues and the opportunities of its use.

Shaping the Future of Cardiac Wellness: Exploring Revolutionary Approaches in Disease Management and Prevention

“…This can be a challenge for cardiovascular diseases, which often require a physical examination, such as listening to the heart and lungs or palpating the peripheral pulses. While wearable technology can provide some information on vital signs and physical activity, it cannot replace a comprehensive physical examination [164].…”

Heart Failure Management through Telehealth: Expanding Care and Connecting Hearts

“…The integration of various implements, ranging from basic devices for monitoring body weight, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation, to wearable technology and stateof-the-art RM systems incorporated into Cardiovascular Implantable Electronic Devices (CIEDs), plays a well-established role in managing HF patients [3]. Although RM in HF has traditionally been focused on lifestyle management [5], early recognition of HF exacerbation signs, and subsequent diuretic adjustment [6][7][8], the pursuit of optimizing medical therapy could represent a new significant frontier. Alongside these advancements, the role of invasive hemodynamic monitoring devices is increasingly emerging, proving effective in reducing both hospitalizations for HF and positively impacting patients' mortality rates [9,10].…”