Multidisciplinary remote management shows benefit, but the study population was highly selected.
Despite the conceptual appeal of telemedicine to support heart failure (HF) care, clinical trial results have been mixed. In the unblinded, multisite TIM-HF2 trial (NCT01878630), researchers in Germany randomized 1571 people with symptomatic HF, hospitalization within the previous year, and either reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) or preserved LVEF with diuretic treatment to a multimodal telemonitoring program plus usual care or usual care alone (mean age, 70; 30% women; LVEF <40%, 43%).
The telemedicine program included daily transmissions of body weight, blood pressure, cardiac rhythm, oxygen saturation, and health status; patient education; and algorithm-guided physician management through a continuously staffed telemedici…
Reviewing Author
DisclosuresConsultant/Advisory BoardBristol Myers Squibb; CPC Clinical Research
Grant/Research SupportNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Editorial BoardsUpToDate; American College of Cardiology Self-Assessment Program (SAP)
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican College of Cardiology (Chair, Innovations Committee)
DisclosuresConsultant/Advisory BoardBristol Myers Squibb; CPC Clinical Research
Grant/Research SupportNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Editorial BoardsUpToDate; American College of Cardiology Self-Assessment Program (SAP)
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican College of Cardiology (Chair, Innovations Committee)