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Review
. 2022 Jun;19(3):75-108.
doi: 10.1007/s11897-022-00548-z. Epub 2022 Apr 29.

Digital Technologies to Support Better Outcome and Experience of Care in Patients with Heart Failure

K C C McBeath  1 , C E Angermann  2 , M R Cowie  3   4
Affiliations
Review

Digital Technologies to Support Better Outcome and Experience of Care in Patients with Heart Failure

K C C McBeath et al. Curr Heart Fail Rep. 2022 Jun.

Abstract

Purpose of review: In this article, we review a range of digital technologies for possible application in heart failure patients, with a focus on lessons learned. We also discuss a future model of heart failure management, as digital technologies continue to become part of standard care.

Recent findings: Digital technologies are increasingly used by healthcare professionals and those living with heart failure to support more personalised and timely shared decision-making, earlier identification of problems, and an improved experience of care. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the acceptability and implementation of a range of digital technologies, including remote monitoring and health tracking, mobile health (wearable technology and smartphone-based applications), and the use of machine learning to augment data interpretation and decision-making. Much has been learned over recent decades on the challenges and opportunities of technology development, including how best to evaluate the impact of digital health interventions on health and healthcare, the human factors involved in implementation and how best to integrate dataflows into the clinical pathway. Supporting patients with heart failure as well as healthcare professionals (both with a broad range of health and digital literacy skills) is crucial to success. Access to digital technologies and the internet remains a challenge for some patients. The aim should be to identify the right technology for the right patient at the right time, in a process of co-design and co-implementation with patients.

Keywords: Digital health; Digital technology; Heart failure; Person-centred care; Shared decision-making.

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Conflict of interest statement

The salary of KCCM is funded by a fellowship from Abbott. CEA has chaired the Steering Committee of the MEMS-HF study and is co-chairing the steering committee of the PASSPORT-HF study. She further declares grant support, personal fees and/or non-financial support from Abbott, Astra-Zeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Medtronic, Novartis, ResMed, Thermo Fisher and Vifor, all outside of the submitted work, and acknowledges non-financial support from the University Hospital Würzburg, non-financial support from Comprehensive Heart Failure Centre Würzburg and grant support from the German Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF). CEA is the Editor-in-Chief of Current Heart Failure Reports. MRC chairs the steering committee of the COAST study and was a member of the MANAGE-HF, DOT-HF, HOME-HF, SENSE-HF, REM-HF steering committees. MRC has provided consultancy advice to AstraZeneca, Novartis, Bayer, Roche diagnostics, Sevier, Fire1foundry, Abbott, Medtronic and Boston Scientific. His hospital receives research grants for a fellowship — currently held by KCCM.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent.

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The contrast between the traditional model of heart failure care (left), with a modern digitally-supported patient-centric model of heart failure care (right). The traditional model uses fixed periodic review with a healthcare organisation (HCO) focus on reactive management of patient crises. The modern model of heart failure care uses digital technology to support patients at various stages of their heart failure illness, allowing dynamic management of issues as they arise. Healthcare organisation focus is on pro-active health maintenance. HCP, healthcare professional; HCO, healthcare organisation; CIEDs, cardiac implantable electronic devices; Apps, smartphone applications
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
What are remote monitoring and remote patient management?
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Key elements to consider for successful remote patient management. Modified with permission from Angermann C, 2019 [59]. AI, artificial intelligence; HCP, healthcare professional
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
The range of digital technologies that patients with heart failure potentially have available to them
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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