Key result
Remote CIED monitoring is linked to ~26% fewer in-person visits during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Why the study?
The study aimed to assess whether telecardiology could be a safe alternative to routine outpatient examinations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Does remote monitoring provide a safe alternative to routine outpatient examinations for patients with CIEDs during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Observational (n=85)
Does remote monitoring provide a safe alternative to routine outpatient examinations for patients with CIEDs during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Absolute Event Rate: 1.4% vs 1.9%
p-value: p=0.0077
Remote monitoring of CIED patients during the COVID-19 pandemic safely reduced in-person visits without increasing acute decompensation events or worsening heart failure symptoms, though patient anxiety and depression increased.
Remote monitoring may reduce in-person CIED visits during pandemics; leaves open long-term safety and psychological effects.
Remote monitoring (RM) is the newest function of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs). In our observational retrospective analysis, we aimed to assess whether telecardiology could be a safe alternative to routine outpatient examinations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The in- and outpatient visits, the number of acute cardiac decompensation episodes, the RM data from CIEDs, and general condition were examined via questionnaires (KCCQ, EQ-5D-5L). Regarding the enrolled 85 patients, the number of personal patient appearances was significantly lower in the year following the pandemic outbreak compared to the previous year (1.4 ± 1.4 and 1.9 ± 1.2, p = 0.0077). The number of acute decompensation events was five before and seven during lockdown (p = 0.6). Based on the RM data, there was no significant difference in heart failure (HF) markers (all related p > 0.05); only patient activity increased after restrictions were lifted compared to that before the lockdown (p = 0.03). During restrictions, patients reported increased anxiety and depression compared to their previous state (p < 0.001). There was no subjective change in the perception of HF symptoms (p = 0.7). Based on the subjective perception and CIED data, the quality of life of patients with CIED did not deteriorate during the pandemic, but their anxiety and depression intensified. Telecardiology may be a safe alternative to routine inpatient examination.
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Nagy et al. (2023) conducted an observational in Cardiac implantable electronic devices (n=85). Remote monitoring (telecardiology) vs. Routine outpatient examinations (previous year) was evaluated on Number of personal patient appearances (p=0.0077). Remote monitoring of patients with CIEDs during the COVID-19 pandemic significantly reduced personal patient appearances compared to the previous year (1.4 vs 1.9 visits, p=0.0077).
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