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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2017 Dec;10(12):e004148.
doi: 10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.117.004148.

Impact of Telemonitoring on Health Status

Natalie M Jayaram  1 , Yevgeniy Khariton  1 , Harlan M Krumholz  1 , Sarwat I Chaudhry  1 , Jennifer Mattera  1 , Fengming Tang  1 , Jeph Herrin  1 , Beth Hodshon  1 , John A Spertus  2
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Impact of Telemonitoring on Health Status

Natalie M Jayaram et al. Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes. 2017 Dec.

Abstract

Background: Although noninvasive telemonitoring in patients with heart failure does not reduce mortality or hospitalizations, less is known about its effect on health status. This study reports the results of a randomized clinical trial of telemonitoring on health status in patients with heart failure.

Methods and results: Among 1521 patients with recent heart failure hospitalization randomized in the Tele-HF trial (Telemonitoring to Improve Heart Failure Outcomes), 756 received telephonic monitoring and 765 usual care. Disease-specific health status was measured with the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) within 2 weeks of discharge and at 3 and 6 months. Repeated measures linear regression models were used to assess differences in KCCQ scores between patients assigned to telemonitoring and usual care over 6 months. The baseline characteristics of the 2 treatment arms were similar (mean age, 61 years; 43% female and 39% black). Over the 6-month follow-up period, there was a statistically significant, but clinically small, difference between the 2 groups in their KCCQ overall summary and subscale scores. The average KCCQ overall summary score for those receiving telemonitoring was 2.5 points (95% confidence interval, 0.38-4.67; P=0.02) higher than usual care, driven primarily by improvements in symptoms (3.5 points; 95% confidence interval, 1.18-5.82; P=0.003) and social function (3.1 points; 95% confidence interval, 0.30-6.00; P=0.03).

Conclusions: Telemonitoring results in statistically significant, but clinically small, improvements in health status when compared with usual care. Given that the KCCQ was a secondary outcome, the benefits should be confirmed in future studies.

Clinical trial registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/. Unique identifier: NCT00303212.

Keywords: disease management; health status; heart failure; hospitalization.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Process of Participants through the trial.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Cumulative Frequency Plot showing percentage of patients (Telemonitoring vs. Usual Care) achieving varying 6-month KCCQ overall summary scores.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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