August 2, 2021Heart Rhythm O239 citationsOpen Access
Performance of first pacemaker to use smart device app for remote monitoring
Key Result
Scheduled remote monitoring transmissions using a smart device app achieved a 94.6% success rate, superior to historical controls using traditional bedside consoles (56.3% to 87.1%).
Study Design
Type
Cohort (n=245)
Multicenter
Yes
Structured PICO
Does a smart device app for remote monitoring improve the success rate of scheduled transmissions in pacemaker patients compared to traditional bedside consoles?
P
Population
245 pacemaker patients (mean age 64.8 years, 41.6% female) using a smart device app for remote monitoring, followed for 12 months.
E
Exposure
Bluetooth low-energy (BLE) pacemaker or cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemaker coupled with the MyCareLink Heart app on a patient-owned smart device for remote monitoring.
C
Comparator
3 historical control groups from the Medtronic CareLink database: (1) pacemaker patients with manual communication using a wand with a bedside console, (2) pacemaker patients with wireless automatic communication with a bedside console, and (3) defibrillator patients with wireless automatic communication.
O
Outcome
Success rate of scheduled remote monitoring transmissions through 12 months.
The use of a smart device app for pacemaker remote monitoring significantly improves the success rate of scheduled transmissions compared to traditional bedside consoles.
Abstract
BackgroundHigh adherence to remote monitoring (RM) in pacemaker (PM) patients improves outcomes; however, adherence remains suboptimal. Bluetooth low-energy (BLE) technology in newer-generation PMs enables communication directly with patient-owned smart devices using an app without a bedside console.ObjectiveTo evaluate the success rate of scheduled RM transmissions using the app compared to other RM methods.MethodsThe BlueSync Field Evaluation was a prospective, international cohort evaluation, measuring the success rate of scheduled RM transmissions using a BLE PM or cardiac resynchronization therapy PM coupled with the MyCareLink Heart app. App transmission success was compared to 3 historical “control” groups from the Medtronic de-identified CareLink database: (1) PM patients with manual communication using a wand with a bedside console (PM manual transmission), (2) PM patients with wireless automatic communication with the bedside console (PM wireless); (3) defibrillator patients with similar automatic communication (defibrillator wireless).ResultsAmong 245 patients enrolled (age 64.8±15.6 years, 58.4% men), 953 transmissions were scheduled through 12 months, of which 902 (94.6%) were successfully completed. In comparison, transmission success rates were 56.3% for PM manual transmission patients, 77.0% for PM wireless patients, and 87.1% for defibrillator wireless patients. Transmission success with the app was superior across matched cohorts based on age, sex, and device type (single vs dual vs triple chamber).ConclusionThe success rate of scheduled RM transmissions was higher among patients using the smart device app compared to patients using traditional RM using bedside consoles. This novel technology may improve patient engagement and adherence to RM. High adherence to remote monitoring (RM) in pacemaker (PM) patients improves outcomes; however, adherence remains suboptimal. Bluetooth low-energy (BLE) technology in newer-generation PMs enables communication directly with patient-owned smart devices using an app without a bedside console. To evaluate the success rate of scheduled RM transmissions using the app compared to other RM methods. The BlueSync Field Evaluation was a prospective, international cohort evaluation, measuring the success rate of scheduled RM transmissions using a BLE PM or cardiac resynchronization therapy PM coupled with the MyCareLink Heart app. App transmission success was compared to 3 historical “control” groups from the Medtronic de-identified CareLink database: (1) PM patients with manual communication using a wand with a bedside console (PM manual transmission), (2) PM patients with wireless automatic communication with the bedside console (PM wireless); (3) defibrillator patients with similar automatic communication (defibrillator wireless). Among 245 patients enrolled (age 64.8±15.6 years, 58.4% men), 953 transmissions were scheduled through 12 months, of which 902 (94.6%) were successfully completed. In comparison, transmission success rates were 56.3% for PM manual transmission patients, 77.0% for PM wireless patients, and 87.1% for defibrillator wireless patients. Transmission success with the app was superior across matched cohorts based on age, sex, and device type (single vs dual vs triple chamber). The success rate of scheduled RM transmissions was higher among patients using the smart device app compared to patients using traditional RM using bedside consoles. This novel technology may improve patient engagement and adherence to RM.