title: Socio-economic effects and cost saving potential of remote patient monitoring (SAVE-HM trial).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In the SAVE-trial we evaluated the safety, reliability and improvements of patient management using the BIOTRONIK Home Monitoring®-System (HM) in pacemaker (PM) and implanted cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  115 PM (Module A) and 36 ICD-patients (Module B) were recruited 3 months after implantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  65 patients in Module A were randomised to HM-OFF and had one scheduled outpatient clinic follow-up(FU) per year, whereas patients randomised to HM-ON were equipped with the mobile transmitter and discharged without any further scheduled in-office FU. In Module B 18 patients were randomised to HM-OFF and followed by standard outpatient clinic controls every 6 months; 18 patients were randomised to HM-ON receiving remote monitoring plus one outpatient clinic visit per year; unscheduled follow-ups were performed when necessary.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average follow-up period was 17.1 ± 9.2 months in Module A and 26.3 ± 8.6 months in Module B. In both modules, the number of FUs per year was significantly reduced (Module A HM-ON 0.29 ± 0.6 FUs/year vs HM-OFF 0.53 ± 0.5 FUs/year; p b 0.001; Module B HM-ON 0.87 ± 0.25 vs HM-OFF 1.73 ± 0.53 FU/year,p b 0.001). Cost analysis was significantly lower in the HM-ON group compared to the HM-OFF group (18.0 ± 41.3 and 22.4 ± 26.9 € respectively; p b 0.003). 93% of the unscheduled visits in Module B were clinically indicated,whereas 55% of the routine FUs were classified as clinically unnecessary.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Remote home monitoring of pacemaker and ICD devices was safe, reduced overall hospital visits, and detected events that mandated unscheduled visits.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perl
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stiegler
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rotman
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Prenner
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lercher
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anelli-Monti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sereinigg
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Riegelnik
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kvas
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kos
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Heinzel
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Tscheliessnigg
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pieske
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017046:Cost Savings / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial / Q000191:economics*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods