Patterns in the use of heart failure telemonitoring: A post-hoc analysis of the e-Vita HF trial (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Research of use and adherence to home telemonitoring data can provide new insights into telemonitoring for daily management of patients with heart failure (HF). OBJECTIVE We described the use of a telemonitoring platform, including remote patient monitoring (RPM) of blood pressure, pulse, and weight, and the use of the electronic personal health record (PHR). Patient characteristics were assessed in both adherent and non-adherent patients to weight transmissions. METHODS A post-hoc analysis of the e-Vita HF trial, a three-arm parallel-randomized trial performed in stable HF patients managed in outpatient clinics in the Netherlands. In this study, data were analysed of the participants in the intervention arm (e-Vita HF platform). Adherence to weight transmissions was defined as ≥ 3 times/week for at least 42 weeks during a year. RESULTS Data of 150 patients (mean age 67 ± 11 years, 25% female, 82% NYHA class I-II) were analysed. One year adherence to weight transmissions was 74%. Patients adherent to weight transmissions were less often hospitalized for HF in the six months before enrolment in the study than those non-adherent (8% vs. 23%, p=0.021). The percentage of patients visiting the PHR dropped steadily over time (93% versus 39% at one year). With univariable analyses there was no significant correlation between patient characteristics and adherence to weight transmissions. CONCLUSIONS Adherence to RPM was high among stable HF patients, and best for weighing, however, with adherence decreasing over time. Clinical and demographic variables seem not related to adherence to transmitting weight. CLINICALTRIAL NCT01755988.