Recent Advances in Remote Pulmonary Artery Pressure Monitoring for Patients with Chronic Heart Failure: Current Evidence and Future Perspectives.

Chronic heart failure (HF) is associated with high hospital admission rates and has an enormous burden on hospital resources worldwide. Ideally, detection of worsening HF in an early phase would allow physicians to intervene timely and proactively in order to prevent HF-related hospitalizations, a concept better known as remote hemodynamic monitoring. After years of research, remote monitoring of pulmonary artery pressures (PAP) has emerged as the most successful technique for ambulatory hemodynamic monitoring in HF patients to date. Currently, the CardioMEMS and Cordella HF systems have been tested for pulmonary artery pressure monitoring and the body of evidence has been growing rapidly over the past years. However, several ongoing studies are aiming to fill the gap in evidence that is still very clinically relevant, especially for the European setting. In this comprehensive review, we provide an overview of all available evidence for PAP monitoring as well as a detailed discussion of currently ongoing studies and future perspectives for this promising technique that is likely to impact HF care worldwide.

Pandemia y atencion ambulatoria pediatrica de alta complejidad en un hospital publico. Experiencia de un modelo de atención con uso de telemedicina en niños/as con nutrición parenteral domiciliaria / Pandemic and highly complex pediatric outpatient care in a public hospital. Experience of a care model with the use of telemedicine in children with home parenteral nutrition

Introducción: Los pacientes que reciben nutrición parenteral domiciliaria (NPD) en seguimiento desde el Hospital requieren un monitoreo que debió modificarse por la pandemia por SARS-CoV-2. Objetivo: Valorar la utilización y el impacto en los resultados, de estrategias alternativas a la atención presencial de pacientes con NPD, empleando telemedicina, durante el inicio de la pandemia por SARS-CoV-2, comparándolas con las prácticas habituales previas. Materiales y métodos: Estudio analítico descriptivo retrospectivo que analizó el monitoreo, la evolución y las complicaciones de pacientes con NPD asistidos en el Hospital en el período previo a la pandemia (1/4/2019 y 31/3/2019) y durante su primer año (1/4/2020 a 31/3/2021), basado en la revisión de historias clínicas y bases de datos de complicaciones. Resultados: Las características demográficas, diagnósticos, procedencia y provisión de la NPD fueron similares en los dos períodos. Durante el período de la pandemia se redujeron en forma significativa el número de controles presenciales y aumentaron los realizados por telemedicina en forma sincrónica (con una modalidad pautada previamente), y los controles por profesionales locales. La participación de los cuidadores en los procedimientos de administración de la NPD aumentó en pandemia. Las tasas de complicaciones, re-internaciones, el número de inicios y suspensiones de tratamiento fueron similares en ambos períodos. Conclusiones: En pandemia fue posible implementar y monitorizar la NPD utilizando telemedicina sin observar afectación significativa de la evolución, las complicaciones de la enfermedad y del tratamiento. El seguimiento mediante telemedicina sincrónica resultó útil y se incorporará como una herramienta más al monitoreo habitual sin reemplazarlo

Introduction: Patients receiving home parenteral nutrition (HPN) under follow-up from the Hospital require monitoring that had to be modified due to the SARSCoV-2 pandemic. Objective: To assess the use and the impact on the results of other care strategies for patients with HPN, using telemedicine, during the beginning of the SARS CoV2 pandemic, compared with previous usual practices.Materials and methods: Retrospective descriptive analytical study that analyzed the monitoring, evolution and complications of patients with HPN assisted in the Hospital, in the period before pandemic ( 4/1/2019 to 3/31/2020) and during the first year of SARS CoV-2 pandemic (4/1/2020 to 3/31/2021), according to data obtained from medical records and databases. Results: demographic characteristics, diagnoses, place of residence and HPN provision were similar in both periods. During the pandemic period, the number of face-to-face controls were significantly reduced and those carried out by telemedicine synchronously, and by local professionals increased. The participation of caregivers in the administration procedures of the HPN increased in the pandemic period. The rates of complications, readmissions, number of initiations and suspensions of home treatment were similar in both periods. Conclusions: It was possible to implement and monitor HPN during pandemic. The evolution and complications of the disease and treatment were not significantly affected. Synchronous telemedicine follow-up was successfully useful and will be incorporated as another tool to regular monitoring

Effect of Electronic Symptom Monitoring on Patient-Reported Outcomes Among Patients With Metastatic Cancer: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Electronic systems that facilitate patient-reported outcome (PRO) surveys for patients with cancer may detect symptoms early and prompt clinicians to intervene. Objective: To evaluate whether electronic symptom monitoring during cancer treatment confers benefits on quality-of-life outcomes. Design, Setting, and Participants: Report of secondary outcomes from the PRO-TECT (Alliance AFT-39) cluster randomized trial in 52 US community oncology practices randomized to electronic symptom monitoring with PRO surveys or usual care. Between October 2017 and March 2020, 1191 adults being treated for metastatic cancer were enrolled, with last follow-up on May 17, 2021. Interventions: In the PRO group, participants (n = 593) were asked to complete weekly surveys via an internet-based or automated telephone system for up to 1 year. Severe or worsening symptoms triggered care team alerts. The control group (n = 598) received usual care. Main Outcomes and Measures: The 3 prespecified secondary outcomes were physical function, symptom control, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) at 3 months, measured by the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ-C30; range, 0-100 points; minimum clinically important difference [MCID], 2-7 for physical function; no MCID defined for symptom control or HRQOL). Results on the primary outcome, overall survival, are not yet available. Results: Among 52 practices, 1191 patients were included (mean age, 62.2 years; 694 [58.3%] women); 1066 (89.5%) completed 3-month follow-up. Compared with usual care, mean changes on the QLQ-C30 from baseline to 3 months were significantly improved in the PRO group for physical function (PRO, from 74.27 to 75.81 points; control, from 73.54 to 72.61 points; mean difference, 2.47 [95% CI, 0.41-4.53]; P = .02), symptom control (PRO, from 77.67 to 80.03 points; control, from 76.75 to 76.55 points; mean difference, 2.56 [95% CI, 0.95-4.17]; P = .002), and HRQOL (PRO, from 78.11 to 80.03 points; control, from 77.00 to 76.50 points; mean difference, 2.43 [95% CI, 0.90-3.96]; P = .002). Patients in the PRO group had significantly greater odds of experiencing clinically meaningful benefits vs usual care for physical function (7.7% more with improvements of ≥5 points and 6.1% fewer with worsening of ≥5 points; odds ratio [OR], 1.35 [95% CI, 1.08-1.70]; P = .009), symptom control (8.6% and 7.5%, respectively; OR, 1.50 [95% CI, 1.15-1.95]; P = .003), and HRQOL (8.5% and 4.9%, respectively; OR, 1.41 [95% CI, 1.10-1.81]; P = .006). Conclusions and Relevance: In this report of secondary outcomes from a randomized clinical trial of adults receiving cancer treatment, use of weekly electronic PRO surveys to monitor symptoms, compared with usual care, resulted in statistically significant improvements in physical function, symptom control, and HRQOL at 3 months, with mean improvements of approximately 2.5 points on a 0- to 100-point scale. These findings should be interpreted provisionally pending results of the primary outcome of overall survival. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03249090.

Comparison of Oura Smart Ring Against ActiGraph Accelerometer for Measurement of Physical Activity and Sedentary Time in a Free-Living Context.

Smart rings, such as the Oura ring, might have potential in health monitoring. To be able to identify optimal devices for healthcare settings, validity studies are needed. The aim of this study was to compare the Oura smart ring estimates of steps and sedentary time with data from the ActiGraph accelerometer in a free-living context. A cross-sectional observational study design was used. A convenience sample of healthy adults (n = 42) participated in the study and wore an Oura smart ring and an ActiGraph accelerometer on the non-dominant hand continuously for 1 week. The participants completed a background questionnaire and filled out a daily log about their sleeping times and times when they did not wear the devices. The median age of the participants (n = 42) was 32 years (range, 18-46 years). In total, 191 (61% of the potential) days were compared. The Oura ring overestimated the step counts compared with the ActiGraph. The mean difference was 1416 steps (95% confidence interval, 739-2093 steps). Daily sedentary time was also overestimated by the ring; the mean difference was 17 minutes (95% confidence interval, -2 to 37 minutes). The use of the ring in nursing interventions needs to be considered.

Investigation of respiratory rate in patients with cystic fibrosis using a minimal-impact biomotion system.

BACKGROUND: In this study we tested the hypothesis that in patients with cystic fibrosis (pwCF) respiratory rate (RR) is associated with antibiotic treatment, exacerbation status, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and C-reactive protein (CRP). METHODS: Between June 2018 and May 2019, we consecutively enrolled pwCF who were referred to our hospital. We determined RR and heart rate (HR) by using the minimal-impact system VitaLog during the hospital stay. Furthermore, we performed spirometry and evaluated CRP. RESULTS: We included 47 patients: 20 with pulmonary exacerbation and 27 without. RR decreased in patients with exacerbation (27.5/min (6.0/min) vs. 24.4/min (6.0/min), p = 0.004) and in patients with non-exacerbation (22.5/min (5.0/min) vs. 20.9/min (3.5/min), p = 0.024). Patients with exacerbation showed higher RR than patients with non-exacerbation both at the beginning (p = 0.004) and at the end of their hospital stay (p = 0.023). During the hospital stay, HR did not change in the total cohort (66.8/min (11.0/min) vs. 66.6/min (12.0/min), p = 0.440). Furthermore, we did not find significant differences between patients with exacerbation and patients with non-exacerbation (67.0/min (12.5/min) vs. 66.5/min (10.8/min), p = 0.658). We observed a correlation of ρ = -0.36 between RR and FEV1. Moreover, we found a correlation of ρ = 0.52 between RR and CRP. CONCLUSION: In pwCF requiring intravenous therapy, respiratory rate is higher at their hospital admittance and decreased by the time of discharge; it is also associated with C-reactive protein. Monitoring RR could provide important information about the overall clinical conditions of pwCF.

Optimization of a technology-supported physical activity promotion intervention for breast cancer survivors: Results from Fit2Thrive.

BACKGROUND: The benefits of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) for breast cancer survivors are well established. However, most are insufficiently active. Fit2Thrive used the Multiphase Optimization Strategy methodology to determine the effect of 5 intervention components on MVPA in this population. METHODS: Two hundred sixty-nine participants (mean age, 52.5 years; SD, 9.9 years) received a core intervention (the Fit2Thrive self-monitoring app and Fitbit) and were randomly assigned to 5 intervention components set to on/off in a full factorial experiment: support calls, deluxe app, buddy, online gym, and text messages. The intervention was delivered over 12 weeks with a 12-week follow-up. MVPA was measured via accelerometry at the baseline (T1), at 12 weeks (T2), and at 24 weeks (T3). The main effects and interaction effects at each time point were examined for all components. RESULTS: Trial retention was high: 91.8% had valid accelerometer data at T2 or T3. Across all conditions, there were significant increases in MVPA (+53.6 min/wk; P < .001) and in the proportion of survivors meeting MVPA guidelines (+22.3%; P < .001) at T2 that were maintained but attenuated at T3 (MVPA, +24.6 min/wk; P < .001; meeting guidelines, +12.6%; P < .001). No individual components significantly improved MVPA, although increases were greater for the on level versus the off level for support calls, buddy, and text messages at T2 and T3. CONCLUSIONS: The Fit2Thrive core intervention (the self-monitoring app and Fitbit) is promising for increasing MVPA in breast cancer survivors, but the components provided no additional increases in MVPA. Future research should evaluate the core intervention in a randomized trial and determine what components optimize MVPA behaviors in breast cancer survivors.

Use of a mobile application for the control of anticoagulation with warfarin: a cluster randomized controlled clinical trial - Ijui/RS/Brazil

Abstract To evaluate the effectiveness of an anticoagulation protocol adapted in a mobile application (appG) for patients using warfarin. This was a cluster randomized controlled clinical trial carried out in basic health centers of Ijui, RS, Brazil, between April and October 2017. The appG was installed on the cell phones of all physicians belonging to the intervention group. Primary outcomes were bleeding and thrombosis, and secondary outcomes were changes in the dose of warfarin, use of new drugs, drug interactions, search for health services, and remaining on the target international normalized ratio. Thirty-three patients belonging to 11 basic health centers were included in this study. From these, 15 patients were in the intervention group which used the appG, and 18 were in the control group. After 6 months, patients in the appG group had fewer bleeding events (7% versus 50%, p-value=0.028) and a lower weekly dose of warfarin (29.3 ± 9.7 mg versus 41.7 ± 12.5 mg, p-value=0.030) when compared to the control group. The anticoagulation protocol adapted in a mobile app reduced bleeding in patients using warfarin.

Remote, proactive, telephone based management of toxicity in outpatients during adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy for early stage breast cancer: pragmatic, cluster randomised trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of remote proactive management of toxicities during chemotherapy for early stage breast cancer. DESIGN: Pragmatic, cluster randomised trial. SETTING: 20 cancer centres in Ontario, Canada, allocated by covariate constrained randomisation to remote management of toxicities or routine care. PARTICIPANTS: All patients starting adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy for early stage breast cancer at each centre. 25 patients from each centre completed patient reported outcome questionnaires. INTERVENTIONS: Proactive, standardised, nurse led telephone management of common toxicities at two time points after each chemotherapy cycle. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome, cluster level mean number of visits to the emergency department or admissions to hospital per patient during the whole course of chemotherapy treatment, was evaluated with routinely available administrative healthcare data. Secondary patient reported outcomes included toxicity, self-efficacy, and quality of life. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics of participants were similar in the intervention (n=944) and control arms (n=1214); 22% were older than 65 years. Penetration (that is, the percentage of patients who received the intervention at each centre) was 50-86%. Mean number of visits to the emergency department or admissions to hospital per patient was 0.91 (standard deviation 0.28) in the intervention arm and 0.94 (0.40) in the control arm (P=0.94); 47% (1014 of 2158 patients) had at least one visit to the emergency department or a hospital admission during chemotherapy. Among 580 participants who completed the patient reported outcome questionnaires, at least one grade 3 toxicity was reported by 48% (134 of 278 patients) in the intervention arm and by 58% (163 of 283) in the control arm. No differences in self-efficacy, anxiety, or depression were found. Compared with baseline, the functional assessment of cancer therapy trial outcome index decreased by 6.1 and 9.0 points in the intervention and control participants, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Proactive, telephone based management of toxicities during chemotherapy did not result in fewer visits to the emergency department or hospital admissions. With the rapid rise in remote care because of the covid-19 pandemic, identifying scalable strategies for remote management of patients during cancer treatment is particularly relevant. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02485678.

Post-discharge after surgery Virtual Care with Remote Automated Monitoring-1 (PVC-RAM-1) technology versus standard care: randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if virtual care with remote automated monitoring (RAM) technology versus standard care increases days alive at home among adults discharged after non-elective surgery during the covid-19 pandemic. DESIGN: Multicentre randomised controlled trial. SETTING: 8 acute care hospitals in Canada. PARTICIPANTS: 905 adults (≥40 years) who resided in areas with mobile phone coverage and were to be discharged from hospital after non-elective surgery were randomised either to virtual care and RAM (n=451) or to standard care (n=454). 903 participants (99.8%) completed the 31 day follow-up. INTERVENTION: Participants in the experimental group received a tablet computer and RAM technology that measured blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, temperature, and body weight. For 30 days the participants took daily biophysical measurements and photographs of their wound and interacted with nurses virtually. Participants in the standard care group received post-hospital discharge management according to the centre's usual care. Patients, healthcare providers, and data collectors were aware of patients' group allocations. Outcome adjudicators were blinded to group allocation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was days alive at home during 31 days of follow-up. The 12 secondary outcomes included acute hospital care, detection and correction of drug errors, and pain at 7, 15, and 30 days after randomisation. RESULTS: All 905 participants (mean age 63.1 years) were analysed in the groups to which they were randomised. Days alive at home during 31 days of follow-up were 29.7 in the virtual care group and 29.5 in the standard care group: relative risk 1.01 (95% confidence interval 0.99 to 1.02); absolute difference 0.2% (95% confidence interval -0.5% to 0.9%). 99 participants (22.0%) in the virtual care group and 124 (27.3%) in the standard care group required acute hospital care: relative risk 0.80 (0.64 to 1.01); absolute difference 5.3% (-0.3% to 10.9%). More participants in the virtual care group than standard care group had a drug error detected (134 (29.7%) v 25 (5.5%); absolute difference 24.2%, 19.5% to 28.9%) and a drug error corrected (absolute difference 24.4%, 19.9% to 28.9%). Fewer participants in the virtual care group than standard care group reported pain at 7, 15, and 30 days after randomisation: absolute differences 13.9% (7.4% to 20.4%), 11.9% (5.1% to 18.7%), and 9.6% (2.9% to 16.3%), respectively. Beneficial effects proved substantially larger in centres with a higher rate of care escalation. CONCLUSION: Virtual care with RAM shows promise in improving outcomes important to patients and to optimal health system function. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04344665.

Cost-Effectiveness of Vioptix versus Clinical Examination for Flap Monitoring of Autologous Free Tissue Breast Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Vioptix is a near-infrared spectroscopy tissue oximetry technology that allows for noninvasive monitoring of flap perfusion. Despite the reported benefits of Vioptix, the cost-effectiveness of this flap monitoring technology has not been compared to clinical examination alone. METHODS: A cost-effectiveness model, from the patient perspective, was constructed with two treatment arms: clinical examination versus clinical examination combined with Vioptix for flap monitoring after autologous, free flap breast reconstruction. Costs, utilities, and other model inputs were identified from the literature. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed. Gamma distributions were created for cost variables, and beta distributions were created for probability variables. An incremental cost-effectiveness ratio under $50,000 per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) was considered cost-effective. All analyses were performed using TreeAge Pro (Williamstown, Mass.). RESULTS: Mean cost of autologous free tissue transfer breast reconstruction with clinical examination-based flap monitoring was found to be $37,561 with an effectiveness of 0.79, whereas the mean cost of clinical examination with Vioptix for flap monitoring was $39,361 with effectiveness of 0.82. This yielded an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $60,507 for clinical examination combined with Vioptix for flap monitoring. One-way sensitivity analysis revealed that clinical examination with Vioptix became cost-effective when the cost of Vioptix was less than $1487. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis found that clinical examination was cost-effective in 86.5 percent of cases. CONCLUSION: Although clinical examination combined with Vioptix is minimally more effective for flap monitoring after autologous, free flap breast reconstruction, clinical examination alone is the more cost-effective flap monitoring option.

A Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating Electronic Outpatient Symptom Monitoring After Ambulatory Cancer Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: We implemented routine daily electronic monitoring of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) for 10 days after discharge after ambulatory cancer surgery, with alerts to clinical staff for worrying symptoms. We sought to determine whether enhancing this monitoring by adding immediate automated normative feedback to patients regarding expected symptoms would further improve the patient experience. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: PRO monitoring reduces symptom severity in cancer patients. In ambulatory cancer surgery, it reduces potentially avoidable urgent care center (UCC) visits, defined as those UCC visits without readmission. METHODS: Patients undergoing ambulatory cancer surgery (n = 2624) were randomized to receive standard PRO monitoring or enhanced feedback. The primary study outcome was UCC visits without readmission within 30 days; secondary outcomes included patient anxiety and nursing utilization. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the risk of a potentially avoidable UCC visit [1.0% higher in enhanced feedback, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.2-3.1%; P = 0.12]. There were similarly no significant differences in UCC visits with readmission or readmission overall (P = 0.4 for both). Patients randomized to enhanced feedback demonstrated a quicker reduction in anxiety (P < 0.001) and required 14% (95% CI 8-19%; P < 0.001) and 10% (95% CI 5-16%, P < 0.001) fewer nursing calls over 10 and 30 days postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Providing patients with feedback about symptom severity during recovery from ambulatory cancer surgery reduces anxiety and nursing workload without affecting UCC visits or readmissions. These results support wider incorporation of normative feedback in systems for routine PRO monitoring.

A multi-centre, randomized, controlled trial on coaching and telemonitoring in patients with cystic fibrosis: conneCT CF.

BACKGROUND: The extend of lung disease remains the most important prognostic factor for survival in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), and lack of adherence is the main reason for treatment failure. Early detection of deterioration in lung function and optimising adherence are therefore crucial in CF care. We implement a randomized controlled trial to evaluate efficacy of telemonitoring of adherence, lung function, and health condition in combination with behavior change interventions using innovative digital technologies. METHODS: This is a multi-centre, randomized, controlled, non-blinded trial aiming to include 402 patients ≥ 12 years-of-age with CF. A standard-of-care arm is compared to an arm receiving objective, continuous monitoring of adherence to inhalation therapies, weekly home spirometry using electronic devices with data transmission to patients and caring physicians combined with video-conferencing, a self-management app and professional telephone coaching. The duration of the intervention phase is 18 months. The primary endpoint is time to the first protocol-defined pulmonary exacerbation. Secondary outcome measures include number of and time between pulmonary exacerbations, adherence to inhalation therapy, changes in forced expiratory volume in 1 s from baseline, number of hospital admissions, and changes in health-related quality of life. CF-associated medical treatment and care, and health care related costs will be assessed by explorative analysis in both arms. DISCUSSION: This study offers the opportunity to evaluate the effect of adherence interventions using telemedicine capable devices on adherence and lung health, possibly paving the way for implementation of telemedicine in routine care for patients with CF. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study has been registered with the German Clinical Trials Register (Identifier: DRKS00024642, date of registration 01 Mar 2021, URL: https://www.drks.de/drks_web/navigate.do?navigationId=trial.HTML&TRIAL_ID=DRKS00024642 ).

A Case Study of Two Emerging Nurse Leaders Specializing in Virtual Health during the COVID-19 Global Pandemic.

In the field of digital health research, nurse leaders have an opportunity to be integral to the design, implementation and evaluation of virtual care interventions. This case study details the experiences of two emerging nurse leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic in providing research and clinical leadership for a national virtual health trial. These nurse leaders trained and led a national team of 70 nurses across eight participating centres delivering the virtual care and remote monitoring intervention, using the normalization process theory. This case study presents a theoretically informed approach to training and leadership and discusses the experiences and lessons learned.

Electronic collection of patient-reported outcomes following discharge after surgery: systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the electronic collection and clinical feedback of patient-reported outcomes (ePROs) following surgical discharge. This systematic review summarized the evidence on the collection and uses of electronic systems to collect PROs after discharge from hospital after surgery. METHOD: Systematic searches of MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL and Cochrane Central were undertaken from database inception to July 2019 using terms for 'patient reported outcomes', 'electronic', 'surgery' and 'at home'. Primary research of all study designs was included if they used electronic systems to collect PRO data in adults after hospital discharge following surgery. Data were collected on the settings, patient groups and specialties, ePRO systems (including features and functions), PRO data collected, and integration with health records. RESULTS: Fourteen studies were included from 9474 records, including two RCTs and six orthopaedic surgery studies. Most studies (9 of 14) used commercial ePRO systems. Six reported types of electronic device were used: tablets or other portable devices (3 studies), smartphones (2), combination of smartphones, tablets, portable devices and computers (1). Systems had limited features and functions such as real-time clinical feedback (6 studies) and messaging service for patients with care teams (3). No study described ePRO system integration with electronic health records to support clinical feedback. CONCLUSION: There is limited reporting of ePRO systems in the surgical literature, and ePRO systems lack integration with hospital clinical systems. Future research should describe the ePRO system and ePRO questionnaires used, and challenges encountered during the study, to support efficient upscaling of ePRO systems using tried and tested approaches.

Role of the Ambulatory Assessed Apnea-Hypopnea Index for Predicting Recurring Atrial Fibrillation After Ablation Therapy.

Catheter ablation is an effective treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF). Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a known risk factor for recurrent AF. The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) is a measurement tool to screen patients for OSA. We sought to evaluate if the ambulatory assessed AHI is associated with AF recurrence following AF catheter ablation. 187 patients with paroxysmal (n = 155) or early persistent (n = 32) AF presenting for catheter ablation were included in the study. AHI was determined prior to ablation using an ambulatory screening device. All patients underwent pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). In patients with early persistent AF (17%) additional ablation of complex fractionated atrial electrograms (CFAE) was performed. Clinical follow-up was available after 3 and 12 months including 7-day Holter-ECG. All 187 patients (60.3 ± 11.4 years, 64.2% male) completed the 3 months follow-up and 170 patients the 12 months follow-up. A pathological AHI ≥15 was found in 45/187 (24.1%) patients. Additional CFAE did not differ between patients with an AHI ≥15 and AHI <15 (p = 0.663). After 3 months, 12/41 (29.3%) patients with AHI ≥15 showed recurrent AF compared to 24/146 (16.4%) patients with AHI <15 (p = 0.066). After 12 months, AHI ≥15 was associated with a significant higher rate of AF recurrence of 47.4% (18/38) versus 26.5% (35/132) in patients with AHI <15 (p = 0.014). In the logistic regression analysis AHI ≥15 was an independent predictor of recurrent AF at 12 months (p = 0.011). In conclusion, ambulatory assessed AHI ≥15 is associated with increased risk for AF recurrence following catheter ablation. OSA screening should be performed in AF patients as it might influence catheter ablation success.

Home Monitoring for Glaucoma: Current Applications and Future Directions.

Technological advances provide a number of options for glaucoma monitoring outside the office setting, including home-based tonometry and perimetry. This has the potential to revolutionize management of this chronic disease, improve access to care, and enhance patient engagement. Here, we provide an overview of existing technologies for home-based glaucoma monitoring. We also discuss areas for future research and the potential applications of these technologies to telemedicine, which has been brought to the forefront during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Post Discharge after Surgery Virtual Care with Remote Automated Monitoring Technology (PVC-RAM): protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: After nonelective (i.e., semiurgent, urgent and emergent) surgeries, patients discharged from hospitals are at risk of readmissions, emergency department visits or death. During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, we are undertaking the Post Discharge after Surgery Virtual Care with Remote Automated Monitoring Technology (PVC-RAM) trial to determine if virtual care with remote automated monitoring (RAM) compared with standard care will increase the number of days adult patients remain alive at home after being discharged following nonelective surgery. METHODS: We are conducting a randomized controlled trial in which 900 adults who are being discharged after nonelective surgery from 8 Canadian hospitals are randomly assigned to receive virtual care with RAM or standard care. Outcome adjudicators are masked to group allocations. Patients in the experimental group learn how to use the study's tablet computer and RAM technology, which will measure their vital signs. For 30 days, patients take daily biophysical measurements and complete a recovery survey. Patients interact with nurses via the cellular modem-enabled tablet, who escalate care to preassigned and available physicians if RAM measurements exceed predetermined thresholds, patients report symptoms, a medication error is identified or the nurses have concerns they cannot resolve. The primary outcome is number of days alive at home during the 30 days after randomization. INTERPRETATION: This trial will inform management of patients after discharge following surgery in the COVID-19 pandemic and offer insights for management of patients who undergo nonelective surgery in a nonpandemic setting. Knowledge dissemination will be supported through an online multimedia resource centre, policy briefs, presentations, peer-reviewed journal publications and media engagement. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, no. NCT04344665.