Digital Health Technologies for Post-Discharge Care after Heart Failure Hospitalisation to Relieve Symptoms and Improve Clinical Outcomes

Abstract

The prevention of recurrent heart failure (HF) hospitalisations is of particular importance, as each such successive event may increase the risk of death. Effective care planning during the vulnerable phase after discharge is crucial for symptom control and improving patient prognosis. Many clinical trials have focused on telemedicine interventions in HF, with varying effects on the primary endpoints. However, the evidence of the effectiveness of telemedicine solutions in cardiology is growing. The scope of this review is to present complementary telemedicine modalities that can support outpatient care of patients recently hospitalised due to worsening HF. Remote disease management models, such as video (tele) consultations, structured telephone support, and remote monitoring of vital signs, were presented as core components of telecare. Invasive and non-invasive monitoring of volume status was described as an important step forward to prevent congestion—the main cause of clinical decompensation. The idea of virtual wards, combining these facilities with in-person visits, strengthens the opportunity for education and enhancement to promote more intensive self-care. Electronic platforms provide coordination of tasks within multidisciplinary teams and structured data that can be effectively used to develop predictive algorithms based on advanced digital science, such as artificial intelligence. The rapid progress in informatics, telematics, and device technologies provides a wide range of possibilities for further development in this area. However, there are still existing gaps regarding the use of telemedicine solutions in HF patients, and future randomised telemedicine trials and real-life registries are still definitely needed.

Telemedicine: an Effective and Low-Cost Lesson From the COVID-19 Pandemic for the Management of Heart Failure Patients

“…As for the HF prognosis, fundamental dilemmas on the use of this tool are still open. Many questions concern what type of patients, how, and for how long should be followed up with TM, while other unsolved issues concern who should run the tele-visits and who should intervene in emergency case [ 50 ].…”

The impact of electronic health records on healthcare delivery and patient outcomes: A review

“…For instance, studies have shown that EHRs can help reduce hospital readmission rates by enabling better discharge planning and coordination of care post-discharge. By ensuring that patients receive appropriate follow-up care and support, EHRs play a crucial role in preventing avoidable readmissions (Abraham, Meng, Tripathy, Kitsiou, & Kannampallil, 2022; Krzesiński, 2023). In managing chronic diseases, EHRs facilitate the tracking and managing of patients' conditions over time, enabling healthcare providers to adjust treatment plans as needed and intervene early when patients' conditions worsen.…”