Device diagnostics for heart failure: identifying eligible patients.
The prevalence of heart failure has increased by 500% over the past 30 years, creating a significant burden on the health care system. Traditional means of detecting worsening heart failure, such as subjective assessment, symptoms, and physical examination, lack sensitivity and specificity. Many nurses who manage heart failure patients have become interested in the role implantable cardiac devices play in monitoring patients' clinical status. In addition to providing therapies, some devices track and report diagnostic information that allows clinicians to more closely and effectively monitor patients, with the possibility of helping to prevent hospitalizations and improve patient outcomes. Optimal use of device diagnostics requires clinics to establish systems for recognizing patients who are eligible for device monitoring. This paper highlights various methods clinics have used to identify patients with implantable cardiac devices so that their device data can be used in conjunction with clinical evaluations to help guide patient care.
Cardiovascular Consultants, 4330 Wornall Road, Suite 2000, Kansas City, MO 64111, USA. fmenefee@cc-pc.com
Felicia
F
Menefee
Lisa
L
Rathman
Leigh
L
Sibert
D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing; D003625:Data Collection; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D018450:Disease Progression; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000295:instrumentation; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000451:nursing; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D018579:Patient Selection; D015995:Prevalence; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index