A new telemonitoring system intended for chronic heart failure patients using mobile telephone technology--feasibility study.
BACKGROUND
Remote monitoring is one modality of structured care in chronic heart failure. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of a new wireless telemonitoring system via a mobile phone network.


METHODS
Portable home devices for electrocardiogram, blood pressure, body weight and self-assessment measurements were connected (via Bluetooth) to a personal digital assistant (PDA) that performs automated encrypted transmission via mobile phone. Two telemedical centres were set-up.


RESULTS
30 healthy volunteers were enrolled and followed for 26 days. A total of 4002 single measurements were taken, 133 ± 37 per person. No data was lost or incorrectly allocated. 880 of 937 (94%) of the ECG recordings had sufficient diagnostic quality for rhythm analysis and single beat measurements. 50 continuous ECG-streams (312 min) without disruption were performed. Total system availability was 96.6%, including that of the mobile phone network.


CONCLUSIONS
Mobile phone technology is suitable for continuous and secure medical data transmission. To evaluate the clinical use in chronic heart failure patients, a large multicentre randomized controlled trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00543881) was started.
Winkler
Sebastian
S
Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Mitte, Department of Cardiology, Berlin, Germany. sebastian.winkler@charite.de
Schieber
Michael
M
Lücke
Stephanie
S
Heinze
Peter
P
Schweizer
Thomas
T
Wegertseder
Dominik
D
Scherf
Michael
M
Nettlau
Herbert
H
Henke
Sascha
S
Braecklein
Martin
M
Anker
Stefan D
SD
Koehler
Friedrich
F
D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D040421:Cell Phone / Q000639:trends; D002908:Chronic Disease; D034201:Computers, Handheld / Q000639:trends*; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000639:trends*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000639:trends*