Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2020 Apr 1;3(4):e202165.
doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.2165.

Effect of Smartphone-Enabled Health Monitoring Devices vs Regular Follow-up on Blood Pressure Control Among Patients After Myocardial Infarction: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Roderick W Treskes  1 , Loes A M van Winden  1 , Nicole van Keulen  1 , Enno T van der Velde  1 , Saskia L M A Beeres  1 , Douwe E Atsma  1 , Martin Jan Schalij  1
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Effect of Smartphone-Enabled Health Monitoring Devices vs Regular Follow-up on Blood Pressure Control Among Patients After Myocardial Infarction: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Roderick W Treskes et al. JAMA Netw Open. .

Abstract

Importance: Smart technology via smartphone-compatible devices might improve blood pressure (BP) regulation in patients after myocardial infarction.

Objectives: To investigate whether smart technology in clinical practice can improve BP regulation and to evaluate the feasibility of such an intervention.

Design, setting, and participants: This study was an investigator-initiated, single-center, nonblinded, feasibility, randomized clinical trial conducted at the Department of Cardiology of the Leiden University Medical Center between May 2016 and December 2018. Two hundred patients, who were admitted with either ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction or non-ST-segment acute coronary syndrome, were randomized in a 1:1 fashion between follow-up groups using smart technology and regular care. Statistical analysis was performed from January 2019 to March 2019.

Interventions: For patients randomized to regular care, 4 physical outpatient clinic visits were scheduled in the year following the initial event. In the intervention group, patients were given 4 smartphone-compatible devices (weight scale, BP monitor, rhythm monitor, and step counter). In addition, 2 in-person outpatient clinic visits were replaced by electronic visits.

Main outcomes and measures: The primary outcome was BP control. Secondary outcomes, as a parameter of feasibility, included patient satisfaction (general questionnaire and smart technology-specific questionnaire), measurement adherence, all-cause mortality, and hospitalizations for nonfatal adverse cardiac events.

Results: In total, 200 patients (median age, 59.7 years [interquartile range, 52.9-65.6 years]; 156 men [78%]) were included, of whom 100 were randomized to the intervention group and 100 to the control group. After 1 year, 79% of patients in the intervention group had controlled BP vs 76% of patients in the control group (P = .64). General satisfaction with care was the same between groups (mean [SD] scores, 82.6 [14.1] vs 82.0 [15.1]; P = .88). The all-cause mortality rate was 2% in both groups (P > .99). A total of 20 hospitalizations for nonfatal adverse cardiac events occurred (8 in the intervention group and 12 in the control group). Of all patients, 32% sent in measurements each week, with 63% sending data for more than 80% of the weeks they participated in the trial. In the intervention group only, 90.3% of patients were satisfied with the smart technology intervention.

Conclusions and relevance: These findings suggest that smart technology yields similar percentages of patients with regulated BP compared with the standard of care. Such an intervention is feasible in clinical practice and is accepted by patients. More research is mandatory to improve patient selection of such an intervention.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02976376.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: Dr Treskes reported receiving personal fees from Boston Scientific outside the submitted work. The Department of Cardiology of the Leiden University Medical Center receives unrestricted research and educational grants from Boston Scientific, Medtronic, and Biotronik outside the submitted work. No other disclosures were reported.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. CONSORT Flowchart
Figure 2.
Figure 2.. Kaplan-Meier Curve for Event-Free Survival in the Intervention and Control Groups
HR indicates hazard ratio.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

References

    1. Yeh RW, Sidney S, Chandra M, Sorel M, Selby JV, Go AS. Population trends in the incidence and outcomes of acute myocardial infarction. N Engl J Med. 2010;362(23):-. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa0908610 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Ho PM, Magid DJ, Shetterly SM, et al. . Medication nonadherence is associated with a broad range of adverse outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease. Am Heart J. 2008;155(4):772-779. doi:10.1016/j.ahj.2007.12.011 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Lussier MT, Richard C, Glaser E, Roberge D. The impact of a primary care e-communication intervention on the participation of chronic disease patients who had not reached guideline suggested treatment goals. Patient Educ Couns. 2016;99(4):530-541. doi:10.1016/j.pec.2015.11.007 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Ball MJ, Lillis J. E-health: transforming the physician/patient relationship. Int J Med Inform. 2001;61(1):1-10. doi:10.1016/S1386-5056(00)00130-1 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Saner H, van der Velde E. eHealth in cardiovascular medicine: a clinical update. Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2016;23(2)(suppl):5-12. doi:10.1177/2047487316670256 - DOI - PubMed

Publication types

Associated data