Cardiological and psychological mobile care through telematic technologies for heart failure patients: ICAROS project

Abstract

Currently heart failure is one of the main causes of disability and mortality in western countries. Due to the severity of this illness, as well as the number of clinical interventions necessary (particularly the high frequency of hospitalizations), heart failure comprises a major health expense. Specifically, it accounts for 5% of total hospitalization costs and 1-2% of total healthcare expenses [1]. Better therapies for myocardial infarction (MI) and an increasingly older population will eventually result in even larger numbers of patients with chronic heart failure. Obviously, the increase of patients will necessitate new interventions and support models, including multi-pharmacological prescriptions and close monitoring of clinical conditions over extended periods.Because a patient's psychological condition can influence the course of cardiac disease and therapeutic compliance, the interventions also will need to monitor behavioral and life-style modifications, requiring extensive education efforts, both for the patients themselves and for their families. © 2006 Springer-Verlag Milan.