title: A multicenter randomized controlled evaluation of automated home monitoring and telephonic disease management in patients recently hospitalized for congestive heart failure: the SPAN-CHF II trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We performed a prospective, randomized investigation assessing the incremental effect of automated health monitoring (AHM) technology over and above that of a previously described nurse directed heart failure (HF) disease management program. The AHM system measured and transmitted body weight, blood pressure, and heart rate data as well as subjective patient self-assessments via a standard telephone line to a central server.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 188 consented and eligible patients were randomized between intervention and control groups in 1:1 ratio. Subjects randomized to the control arm received the Specialized Primary and Networked Care in Heart Failure (SPAN-CHF) heart failure disease management program. Subjects randomized to the intervention arm received the SPAN-CHF disease management program in conjunction with the AHM system. The primary end point was prespecified as the relative event rate of HF hospitalization between intervention and control groups at 90 days. The relative event rate of HF hospitalization for the intervention group compared with controls was 0.50 (95%CI [0.25-0.99], P = .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Short-term reductions in the heart failure hospitalization rate were associated with the use of automated home monitoring equipment. Long-term benefits in this model remain to be studied.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weintraub
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gregory
authors.forename: Ayan R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Venesy
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Delano
authors.forename: Marvin A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Konstam
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D018575:Home Care Services, Hospital-Based / Q000592:standards*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000592:standards*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000592:standards*