Randomized Trial of Telemonitoring to Improve Heart Failure Outcomes (Tele-HF): Study Design

Chaudhry, Sarwat I.; Barton, Barbara; Mattera, Jennifer; Spertus, John; Krumholz, Harlan M.

doi:10.1016/j.cardfail.2007.06.720

« Previous Next »Journal of Cardiac Failure
Volume 13, Issue 9 , Pages 709-714, November 2007

Randomized Trial of Telemonitoring to Improve Heart Failure Outcomes (Tele-HF): Study Design

Sarwat I. Chaudhry, MD
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of General Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
- Reprint requests: Dr. Sarwat I. Chaudhry, Yale University School of Medicine, P.O. Box 208025, New Haven, CT 06520-8025.
Barbara Barton, RN, MPH
- Center For Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT
Jennifer Mattera, MPH
- Center For Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT
- Section of Health Policy and Administration, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
John Spertus, MD, MPH, FACC
- Cardiovascular Education and Outcomes Research Mid America Heart Institute of Saint Luke's Hospital
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Missouri-Kansas City
Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM
- Center For Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Section of Health Policy and Administration, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
- The Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT

Received 23 March 2007; received in revised form 11 June 2007; accepted 12 June 2007.

Abstract

Background

Telemonitoring, the use of communication technology to monitor clinical status, is gaining attention as a strategy to improve the care of patients with heart failure. A system of frequent monitoring could alert clinicians to early heart failure decompensation, providing the opportunity for intervention before patients become severely ill and require hospitalization. Moreover, patients' participation in a daily monitoring program could have a favorable effect on their health behaviors. The literature on telemonitoring for heart failure, however, is quite limited.

Methods and Materials

Telemonitoring to Improve Heart Failure Outcomes (Tele-HF) is a randomized, controlled, trial designed to compare an automated, daily symptom, and self-reported weight monitoring intervention with usual care in reducing (all-cause) hospital readmissions and mortality among patients recently hospitalized with decompensated heart failure. The intervention will be implemented and all outcomes will be assessed over a 6-month period. The purpose of the intervention is to collect information about symptoms, clinical status and weight and to engage participants in their own self-care. Participants are recruited from general cardiology, heart failure specialty, and primary care practices across the United States.