From Capsil Wiki

Objectives - The objectives of this randomised trial were to compare telemonitoring at home versus 'usual care' scenarios for patients suffering from heart failure.

Details - From 2002 to 2004, 461 Heart failure patients (age 60 +/- 11 years, New York Heart Association class 2.4 +/- 0.6, left ventricular ejection fraction 29 +/- 7%) were enrolled at 11 centers and randomized in a 1:2 ratio to either 'usual' outpatient care or home telemonitoring. The final numbers were 215 from Italy, 187 from Poland and 59 from the UK.

The home telemonitoring scheme was threefold

(1) Monthly telephone contact (2) Monthly telephone contact plus weekly transmission of vital signs; and (3) Monthly telephone contact plus weekly transmission of vital signs plus monthly 24h recording of cardiorespiratory activity. Vitals measured included ECG, blood pressure, spirometry, and weight. The home telemonitoring was totally patient-managed (training was provided) and data sent over dedicated lines to the monitoring center.

Results - The pilot reported results as follows;

• Patients completed 81% of vital signs transmissions, as well as 92% of cardiorespiratory recordings. The study noted that compliance was very good
• Over a 12-month follow-up, there was no significant effect of home telemonitoring in reducing bed-days occupancy for heart failure or cardiac death.
• Home or Hospital in Heart failure indicates that self-managed home telemonitoring of clinical and physiological parameters is feasible in heart failure patients; with surprisingly high compliance however it is still unclear what the long term benefits of such home telemonitoring will be.
• More (larger scale) pilot work is needed.

References

• 1. Mortara et al. Home telemonitoring in heart failure patients: the HHH study (Home or Hospital in Heart Failure).European Journal of Heart Failure. 2009 Mar;11(3):227-8