Key result
Remote monitoring of 2,955 CIEDs over 25 days during the COVID-19 lockdown identified 129 patients with actionable observations (12.0/1000 patient-weeks), with 5 needing urgent hospital access.
Why the study?
The COVID-19 pandemic challenged the ability of health care organisations to provide adequate care, prompting evaluation of a fully remote follow-up model for CIED patients.
Does a fully remote follow-up model safely manage patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices and minimize hospital visits during a pandemic lockdown?
Observational (n=2,955)
No
Does a fully remote follow-up model safely manage patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices and minimize hospital visits during a pandemic lockdown?
Remote monitoring of CIEDs safely triaged patient needs during the COVID-19 lockdown, drastically reducing the need for in-person hospital visits.
Supports remote CIED follow-up feasibility amid disruptions; leaves open long-term safety versus in-person care.
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged the ability of health care organisations to provide adequate care. We report the experience of a national tertiary electrophysiology centre in the management of patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) through the use of a fully remote follow-up model. METHODS: 2020, a period of suspension of routine ambulatory activity due to the national lockdown. RESULTS: During the study period (25 days), we received 2,215 transmissions from 2,955 devices. Among them, 129 patients reported potential clinically actionable RM observations (event rate: 12.0/1000 patient-week). In 77 patients (60%), RM events triggered a clinical action, but only 5 patients needed an urgent in-hospital access (4 urgent procedures and 1 device reprogramming). CONCLUSIONS: In the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, RM became an essential tool in healthcare delivery for CIED patients. We observed that RM was effective in "keep people safe" and "focus only on individuals with health care needs".
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Iacopino et al. (2020) conducted an observational in Cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) (n=2,955). Remote monitoring was evaluated on Clinically actionable remote monitoring observations. Remote monitoring of 2,955 CIEDs over 25 days during the COVID-19 lockdown identified 129 patients with actionable observations (12.0/1000 patient-weeks), with 5 needing urgent hospital access.
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