Telemonitoramento da Insuficiência Cardíaca – A Experiência de um Centro

Abstract

Background: The natural history of heart failure is a progressive decline and recurrent hospital admissions. New strategies to timely detect decompensations are needed. The use of telemonitoring in heart failure is inconsistent. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of this telemonitoring program (TMP) in hospitalizations and emergency department admissions. Methods: This is a retrospective observational study, that analyzed data of all the patients who enrolled in the TMP program from January 2018 to December 2019. Demographic, clinical, and TMP-related data were collected. The number of hospitalizations and emergency department admissions from the year before and after enrollment were compared, using the Wilcoxon test. A two-sided p<0.05 was considered significant. Results: A total of 39 patients were enrolled, with a mean age of 62.1 ± 14 years and a male predominance (90%). The most common causes of heart failure were ischemic and dilated cardiomyopathy. The mean ejection fraction was 30% and the median time of disease duration was 84 months (IQR 33-144). Patients who were enrolled for less than one month were excluded, with a total of 34 patients analyzed. Patients were followed in the TMP for a median of 320 days. The number of emergency department admissions was reduced by 66% (p<0.001), and the number of hospitalizations for heart failure was reduced by 68% (p<0.001). The TMP had no impact on the number of hospitalizations for other causes. Conclusions: This trial suggests that a TMP could reduce health service use in patients with heart failure.