Introduction Telemedicine has been increasingly integrated into cardiac care, thus offering remote monitoring and consultation for patients with cardiovascular diseases. It promises to improve patient outcomes, especially in heart failure management, by enabling continuous monitoring of vital signs and facilitating remote patient-provider interactions. This technology has gained particular significance amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, thereby offering a safer alternative to in-person visits. This study assesses the effectiveness of telemedicine in the management of cardiac patients in Saudi Arabia, and reflects on its benefits, challenges, and overall impact on patient outcomes. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze patient records from Saudi healthcare facilities and compare health indicators before and after telemedicine implementation. The study involved cardiac patients who received telemedicine consultations and a control group who received traditional care. Statistical analyses, including the chi-square test, t-test, and ANOVA, were performed to identify differences between the groups while controlling for confounders. Results There were no statistically significant differences between the telemedicine and control groups in terms of blood pressure (P = 0.72), heart rate (P = 0.65), readmission rate (P = 0.54), and medication adherence (P = 0.48). The patient satisfaction was slightly higher in the telemedicine group, although the difference was not statistically significant (mean satisfaction score of 3.01 vs. 2.83, P = 0.41). Conclusions The introduction of telemedicine did not significantly alter the cardiac patient outcomes compared with traditional in-person care in Saudi Arabia. Although telemedicine offers a promising alternative for patient management, its effectiveness may vary based on the individual patient's needs and specific health indicators. Further research is necessary to explore its full potential and to optimize its application in cardiac care.
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Saeed et al. (2024) studied this question.