Liability of Health Professionals Using Sensors, Telemedicine and Artificial Intelligence for Remote Healthcare.

In the last few decades, there has been an ongoing transformation of our healthcare system with larger use of sensors for remote care and artificial intelligence (AI) tools. In particular, sensors improved by new algorithms with learning capabilities have proven their value for better patient care. Sensors and AI systems are no longer only non-autonomous devices such as the ones used in radiology or surgical robots; there are novel tools with a certain degree of autonomy aiming to largely modulate the medical decision. Thus, there will be situations in which the doctor is the one making the decision and has the final say and other cases in which the doctor might only apply the decision presented by the autonomous device. As those are two hugely different situations, they should not be treated the same way, and different liability rules should apply. Despite a real interest in the promise of sensors and AI in medicine, doctors and patients are reluctant to use it. One important reason is a lack clear definition of liability. Nobody wants to be at fault, or even prosecuted, because they followed the advice from an AI system, notably when it has not been perfectly adapted to a specific patient. Fears are present even with simple sensors and AI use, such as during telemedicine visits based on very useful, clinically pertinent sensors; with the risk of missing an important parameter; and, of course, when AI appears "intelligent", potentially replacing the doctors' judgment. This paper aims to provide an overview of the liability of the health professional in the context of the use of sensors and AI tools in remote healthcare, analyzing four regimes: the contract-based approach, the approach based on breach of duty to inform, the fault-based approach, and the approach related to the good itself. We will also discuss future challenges and opportunities in the promising domain of sensors and AI use in medicine.

Mechanisms of Pulmonary Vasculopathy in Acute and Long-Term COVID-19: A Review.

Despite the end of the pandemic, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains a major public health concern. The first waves of the virus led to a better understanding of its pathogenesis, highlighting the fact that there is a specific pulmonary vascular disorder. Indeed, COVID-19 may predispose patients to thrombotic disease in both venous and arterial circulation, and many cases of severe acute pulmonary embolism have been reported. The demonstrated presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) within the endothelial cells suggests that direct viral effects, in addition to indirect effects of perivascular inflammation and coagulopathy, may contribute to pulmonary vasculopathy in COVID-19. In this review, we discuss the pathological mechanisms leading to pulmonary vascular damage during acute infection, which appear to be mainly related to thromboembolic events, an impaired coagulation cascade, micro- and macrovascular thrombosis, endotheliitis and hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction. As many patients develop post-COVID symptoms, including dyspnea, we also discuss the hypothesis of pulmonary vascular damage and pulmonary hypertension as a sequela of the infection, which may be involved in the pathophysiology of long COVID.

Targeting Mitochondrial Dynamics during Lower-Limb Ischemia Reperfusion in Young and Old Mice: Effect of Mitochondrial Fission Inhibitor-1 (mDivi-1).

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) strikes more than 200 million people worldwide and has a severe prognosis by potentially leading to limb amputation and/or death, particularly in older patients. Skeletal muscle mitochondrial dysfunctions and oxidative stress play major roles in this disease in relation with ischemia-reperfusion (IR) cycles. Mitochondrial dynamics through impairment of fission-fusion balance may contribute to skeletal muscle pathophysiology, but no data were reported in the setting of lower-limb IR despite the need for new therapeutic options. We, therefore, investigated the potential protective effect of mitochondrial division inhibitor-1 (mDivi-1; 50 mg/kg) in young (23 weeks) and old (83 weeks) mice submitted to two-hour ischemia followed by two-hour reperfusion on systemic lactate, muscle mitochondrial respiration and calcium retention capacity, and on transcripts specific for oxidative stress and mitochondrial dynamics. At the systemic levels, an IR-related increase in circulating lactate was still major despite mDivi-1 use (+305.9% p < 0.0001, and +269.4% p < 0.0001 in young and old mice, respectively). Further, IR-induced skeletal muscle mitochondrial dysfunctions (more severely impaired mitochondrial respiration in old mice (OXPHOS CI state, -68.2% p < 0.0001 and -84.9% p < 0.0001 in 23- and 83-week mice) and reduced calcium retention capacity (-46.1% p < 0.001 and -48.2% p = 0.09, respectively) were not corrected by mDivi-1 preconditioning, whatever the age. Further, mDivi-1 treatment did not oppose superoxide anion production (+71.4% p < 0.0001 and +37.5% p < 0.05, respectively). At the transcript level, markers of antioxidant enzymes (SOD 1, SOD 2, catalase, and GPx) and fission markers (Drp1, Fis) remained unchanged or tended to be decreased in the ischemic leg. Fusion markers such as mitofusin 1 or 2 decreased significantly after IR in both groups. In conclusion, aging enhanced the deleterious effects or IR on muscle mitochondrial respiration, and in this setting of lower-limb IR, mDivi-1 failed to protect the skeletal muscle both in young and old mice.

Early Hospital Discharge Using Remote Monitoring for Patients Hospitalized for COVID-19, Regardless of Need for Home Oxygen Therapy: A Descriptive Study.

AIM: Since beds are unavailable, we prospectively investigated whether early hospital discharge will be safe and useful in patients hospitalized for COVID-19, regardless of their need for home oxygen therapy. POPULATION AND METHODS: Extending the initial inclusion criteria, 62 patients were included and 51 benefited from home telemonitoring, mainly assessing clinical parameters (blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, dyspnea, temperature) and peripheral saturation (SpO2) at follow-up. RESULTS: 47% of the patients were older than 65 years; 63% needed home oxygen therapy and/or presented with more than one comorbidity. At home, the mean time to dyspnea and tachypnea resolutions ranged from 21 to 24 days. The mean oxygen-weaning duration was 13.3 ± 10.4 days, and the mean SpO2 was 95.7 ± 1.6%. The nurses and/or doctors managed 1238 alerts. Two re-hospitalizations were required, related to transient chest pain or pulmonary embolism, but no death occurred. Patient satisfaction was good, and 743 potential days of hospitalization were saved for other patients. CONCLUSION: The remote monitoring of vital parameters and symptoms is safe, allowing for early hospital discharge in patients hospitalized for COVID-19, whether or not home oxygen therapy was required. Oxygen tapering outside the hospital allowed for a greater reduction in hospital stay. Randomized controlled trials are necessary to confirm this beneficial effect.

Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Mitochondrial Respiration and Superoxide Anion after Heart Transplantation.

INTRODUCTION: The mitochondrial function of circulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) is an interesting new approach to cardiac diseases. Thus, PBMC's mitochondrial respiration decreases in relation to heart failure severity. However, no data are available on heart-transplanted patients (Htx). POPULATION AND METHODS: We determined PBMCs mitochondrial respiration by high-resolution respirometry (Oroboros Instruments) and superoxide anion production using electron paramagnetic resonance (Bruker-Biospin) in 20 healthy subjects and 20 matched Htx and investigated clinical, biological, echocardiographic, coronarography and biopsy characteristics. RESULTS: PBMCs mitochondrial respiratory chain complex II respiration was decreased in Htx (4.69 ± 0.84 vs. 7.69 ± 1.00 pmol/s/million cell in controls and Htx patients, respectively; p = 0.007) and complex IV respiration was increased (24.58 ± 2.57 vs. 15.68 ± 1.67 pmol/s/million cell; p = 0.0035). Superoxide anion production was also increased in Htx (1.47 ± 0.10 vs. 1.15 ± 0.10 µmol/min; p = 0.041). The leucocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio was increased in Htx, whom complex II correlated with leucocyte number (r = 0.51, p = 0.02) and with the left ventricular posterior wall peak early diastolic myocardial velocity (r = -0.62, p = 0.005). Complex IV was increased in the two patients with acute rejection and correlated negatively with Htx's isovolumetric relation time (r = -0.45, p = 0.045). DISCUSSION: Although presenting with normal systolic function, Htx demonstrated abnormal PBMC's mitochondrial respiration. Unlike immunosuppressive therapies, subclinical diastolic dysfunction might be involved in these changes. Additionally, lymphopenia might reduce complex II, and acute rejection enhances complex IV respirations. CONCLUSION: PBMC's mitochondrial respiration appears modified in Htx, potentially linked to cellular shift, mild diastolic dysfunction and/or acute rejection.

Long-term efficacy of sensor-augmented pump therapy (Minimed 640G system) combined with a telemedicine follow-up in patients with type 1 diabetes: A real life study.

Objective: Evaluate the efficacy of a new modality of insulin therapy associating both the sensor-augmented pump therapy with predictive low-glucose management (SAP-PLGM) and a telemedicine follow-up in patients with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) in a real-life setting. Methods: T1D adults under Minimed 640G system with a telemedicine follow-up for glucose management were included in a retrospective study. The primary endpoint was HbA1c while continuous glucose monitoring parameters (CGM) and treatment compliance were the secondary endpoints. These parameters were analyzed according to the therapeutic indication, HbA1c ≥ 8 % (Group A) or severe hypoglycemic events (Group B) and in patients switched to SAP-PLGM therapy. Results: 62 patients were analyzed with a 28 ± 12 months of follow-up. In Group A, HbA1c decreased from 8.3 ± 0.4 % to 7.7 ± 0.7 % (p < 0.05) and to 7.9 ± 0.3 % (p < 0.05) after 2 and 3 years, respectively. In patients switched to SAP-PLGM therapy, HbA1c decreased from 7.7 ± 0.7 % to 7.2 ± 0.8 % (p < 0.05) at 2 years. After 6 months, the time-below-range (<70 mg/dL) decreased from 2.1 % [0.6-4] to 1.1 % [0.3-2.6] (p < 0.05). Severe hypoglycemic events decreased from 1.62 to 0.5 events/patient/year in Group B (p < 0.05). At 3 years, treatment compliance was 92 % [70-97] in the total population. Conclusions: Long-term real-life treatment with the SAP-PLGM therapy combined with telemedicine was associated with improved glycemic control in T1D, along with high treatment compliance.

Pathophysiology of Heart Failure: A Role for Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Mitochondrial Dysfunction?

Heart failure (HF) is a leading cause of hospitalization in patients aged more than 65 years and is associated with high mortality rates. A better comprehension of its physiopathology is still needed, and, in addition to neurohormonal systems and sodium glucose co-transporter 2 modulations, recent studies focus on the mitochondrial respiration of peripheral blood circulating cells (PBMCs). Thus, cardiovascular metabolic risk factors and cellular switch with an increased neutrophil/lymphocytes ratio might favor the decreased PBMC mitochondrial respiration observed in relation with HF severity. PBMCs are implicated in the immune system function and mitochondrial dysfunction of PBMC, potentially induced by their passage through a damaged heart and by circulating mitoDAMPs, which can lead to a vicious circle, thus sustaining negative cardiac remodeling during HF. This new approach of HF complex pathophysiology appears to be a promising field of research, and further studies on acute and chronic HF with reduced or preserved LVEF are warranted to better understand whether circulating PBMC mitochondrial function and mitoDAMPs follow-ups in HF patients might show diagnosis, prognosis or therapeutic usefulness.

Deployment of a remote monitoring solution for the elderly: experiment with an elderly patient / Déploiement d'une solution de télésurveillance du sujet âgé : expérimentation auprès d'un patient âgé

Introduction: Telemedicine can help manage patients suffering from chronic pathologies, particularly elderly patients with numerous comorbidities. We experimented with the e-platform, MyPredi, dedicated to the automated, intelligent detection of situations where patients are at risk of decompensation from geriatric syndromes. We focused our experiment on one particular patient included in the GER-e-TEC study. Methods: The MyPredi platform uses on medical sensors that communicate and relay real-time feedback to an intelligent system of physiological information that analyzes medical ontology, ultimately leading to the generation of alerts. These alerts are linked to a deterioration in the patient's state of health due to a decompensation of chronic pathologies. We reported the results of this experiment for the patient who was participating. Results: The telemedicine solution made 6,073 measurements for the patient throughout his hospitalization, averaging 253 measurements per day. The telemedicine solution issued 110 alerts for the patient during his stay, with an average of 5 alerts per day. The patient had 15 mild alerts, 31 moderate alerts, and 64 severe alerts. In terms of sensitivity, the results are 100% for all geriatric risks and very satisfactory in terms of positive and negative predictive value. Conclusion: MyPredi telemedicine platform enables the generation of alerts in an automatic and non-intrusive way relating to the deterioration of a patient's state of health with regard to geriatric risks.

Introduction: La télémédecine est susceptible d'apporter une aide à la prise en charge des patients souffrant de pathologies chroniques, en particulier les sujets âgés porteurs de nombreuses comorbidités. Dans ce cadre, nous avons expérimenté la e-plateforme MyPredi dédiée à la détection automatisée et intelligente des situations à risque de décompensation des syndromes gériatriques, auprès d'un patient inclus pour l'étude GER-e-TEC (pour geriatrics and e-technology). Méthodes: La plateforme MyPredi repose sur des capteurs médicaux communicants permettant de remonter, en temps réel, à un système intelligent des informations physiologiques, et sur une analyse de l'ontologie médicale, ce qui aboutit in fine à la génération d'alertes. Ces dernières sont liées à une dégradation de l'état de santé des patients en rapport avec une décompensation des pathologies chroniques. Nous indiquons les résultats de cette expérimentation pour le patient inclus. Résultats: La solution de télémédecine a réalisé 6 073 mesures pour le patient durant tout le long de son hospitalisation, avec en moyenne 253 mesures par jour. La solution de télémédecine a émis 110 alertes pour le patient durant son séjour, avec en moyenne cinq alertes par jour. Le patient a eu 15 alertes légères, 31 modérées et 64 sévères. On note une sensibilité de 100 % pour l'ensemble des risques gériatriques, avec des résultats très satisfaisants en termes de valeurs prédictives positives et négatives. Conclusion: En pratique, le système de télémédecine MyPredi permet, de façon automatique et non intrusive, de générer des alertes en rapport avec la dégradation de l'état de santé du patient en ce qui concerne les risques gériatriques.

High-flow arteriovenous fistula and hemodynamic consequences at 1 year after kidney transplantation.

INTRODUCTION: There are only scarce data regarding the cardiovascular impact of arteriovenous fistula after kidney transplantation depending on fistula flow. METHODS: We performed a single-center, prospective, cohort study including 49 patients with a functional fistula at 1 year from kidney transplantation. Patients were convened for a clinical work-up, a biological analysis, a fistula's Doppler ultrasonography and an echocardiography. Main judgment criterion was comparison of echocardiography parameters between patients with relative (fistula flow >1 L/min and a fistula flow/cardiac output ratio >20%), absolute high-flow fistula (fistula flow >2 L/min) and normal-flow fistula. RESULTS: High-flow fistula frequency was 69%. Significantly higher left ventricular end-diastolic and systolic diameters were observed in this group compared with the normal-flow fistula group (53 ± 6 vs. 48 ± 7 mm; p = 0.04 and 33 ± 6 vs. 28 ± 8 mm; p = 0.02) and between the absolute and relative high-flow fistula subgroups (56 ± 6 vs. 51 ± 6 mm; p = 0.009 and 35 ± 6 vs. 31 ± 5 mm; p = 0.01). The study showed no other significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed a significantly higher but not pathological left ventricular end-diastolic and systolic diameters values in patients with high-flow fistula compared with patients with normal-flow fistula and between patients with respectively absolute and relative high-flow fistula.

Glycemic Disorder Risk Remote Monitoring Program in the COVID-19 Very Elderly Patients: Preliminary Results.

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has necessitated the use of new technologies and new processes to care for hospitalized patients, including diabetes patients. This was the basis for the "GER-e-TEC COVID study," an experiment involving the use of the smart MyPredi TM e-platform to automatically detect the exacerbation of glycemic disorder risk in COVID-19 older diabetic patients. Methods: The MyPredi TM platform is connected to a medical analysis system that receives physiological data from medical sensors in real time and analyzes this data to generate (when necessary) alerts. An experiment was conducted between December 14th, 2020 and February 25th, 2021 to test this alert system. During this time, the platform was used on COVID-19 patients being monitored in an internal medicine COVID-19 unit at the University Hospital of Strasbourg. The alerts were compiled and analyzed in terms of sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values with respect to clinical data. Results: 10 older diabetic COVID-19 patients in total were monitored remotely, six of whom were male. The mean age of the patients was 84.1 years. The patients used the telemedicine solution for an average of 14.5 days. 142 alerts were emitted for the glycemic disorder risk indicating hyperglycemia, with an average of 20.3 alerts per patient and a standard deviation of 26.6. In our study, we did not note any hypoglycemia, so the system emitted any alerts. For the sensitivity of alerts emitted, the results were extremely satisfactory, and also in terms of positive and negative predictive values. In terms of survival analysis, the number of alerts and gender played no role in the length of the hospital stay, regardless of the reason for the hospitalization (COVID-19 management). Conclusion: This work is a pilot study with preliminary results. To date, relatively few projects and trials in diabetic patients have been run within the "telemedicine 2.0" setting, particularly using AI, ICT and the Web 2.0 in the era of COVID-19 disease.

Results of the Second Phase of the GER-e-TEC Experiment concerning the Telemonitoring of Elderly Patients Affected by COVID-19 Disease to Detect the Exacerbation of Geriatric Syndromes.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has wreaked health and economic damage globally. This pandemic has created a difficult challenge for global public health. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has necessitated the use of new technologies and new processes to care for hospitalized patients, including elderly patients. Our team developed a telemonitoring program focused on the prevention of geriatric syndromes, the "GER-e-TEC COVID study". METHODS: This second phase took place during the 3rd wave of the epidemic in France, between 14 December 2020 and 25 February 2021, conducted in the University Hospital of Strasbourg. RESULTS: 30 elderly patients affected by COVID-19 disease were monitored remotely; the mean age was 85.9 years and a male/female ratio of 1.5 to 1.11 (36.7%) died during the experiment. The patients used the telemedicine solution for an average of 27.3 days. 140,260 measurements were taken while monitoring the geriatric syndromes of the entire patient group. 4675 measurements were recorded per patient for geriatric disorders and risks. 319 measurements were recorded per patient per day. The telemedicine solution emitted a total of 1245 alerts while monitoring the geriatric syndromes of the entire patient group. In terms of sensitivity, the results were 100% for all geriatric risks and extremely satisfactory in terms of positive and negative predictive values. Survival analyses showed that gender played no role in the length of the hospital stay, regardless of the reason for the hospitalization (decompensated heart failure (p = 0.45), deterioration of general condition (p = 0.12), but significant for death (p = 0.028)). The analyses revealed that the length of the hospital stay was not affected by the number of alerts. The results concerning the predictive nature of alerts are satisfactory. CONCLUSIONS: The MyPredi™ telemedicine system allows for the generation of automatic, non-intrusive alerts when the health of a COVID-19 elderly patient deteriorates due to risks associated with geriatric syndromes.

Reduced Flow-Mediated Dilatation Is Not Related to COVID-19 Severity Three Months after Hospitalization for SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has spread rapidly worldwide, with more than two million deaths. Evidence indicates the critical role of the vascular endothelium in its pathophysiology but, like potential changes in functional vasodilation, the vascular effect of SARS-CoV-2 at a given distance from the acute infection is largely unknown. We assessed brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) in 27 COVID-19 patients needing conventional or intensive care unit hospitalization, three months after SARS-CoV-2 infection diagnosis and in nine age- and sex- matched control subjects. Interestingly, the FMD was lower in COVID-19 patients as compared to controls (8.2 (7.2-8.9) vs. 10.3 (9.1-11.7)); p = 0.002, and half of the hospitalized COVID-19 survivors presented with a reduced FMD < 8% at three months of COVID-19 onset. Impaired FMD was not associated with severe or critical SARS-CoV-2 infection, reflected by ICU hospitalization, total hospitalization duration, or severity of lung damage. In conclusion, reduced FMD is often observed even three months after hospitalization for SARS-CoV-2 infection, but such alteration predominantly appears to not be related to COVID-19 severity. Longer and larger follow-up studies will help to clarify the potential prognosis value of FMD among COVID-19 patients, as well as to further determine the mechanisms involved.

[Interest of ambulatory management of patients with chronic heart failure by protocolized follow-up and therapeutic education: results of the USICAR experiment]. / Intérêt de la prise en charge ambulatoire des patients insuffisants cardiaques chroniques par suivi protocolisé et éducation thérapeutique : résultats de l'expérimentation USICAR.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to determine whether the implementation of regular and structured follow-up of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), combined with therapeutic education, led to better management of these patients. PATIENTS AND METHOD: This was a monocentric, retrospective study on a cohort of patients with a proven CHF, followed in the Mulhouse region (France), between January 2016 and December 2017, by the Unit for Monitoring Heart Failure Patients (USICAR). These patients benefited from a regular protocolized follow-up and a therapeutic education program for a period of 2 years. The main criterion of this study was: the number of days of hospitalization for HF per year and per patient. The secondary endpoints were: the number of days of hospitalization for cardiac causes other than HF and the number of hospital stays for HF per patient. These criteria were collected over the one-year period before inclusion, at one-year-follow-up, and at two-years-follow-up. RESULTS: 159 patients with a mean age of 72.9 years were included in this study. They all had a CHF, mainly stage I-II NYHA (88.7%), of predominantly ischemic origin (50.9%), with altered left ventricular ejection fraction in 69.2% of cases. The primary endpoint averaged 8.33 days (6.84-10.13) in the year prior to inclusion, 2.6 days (1.51-4.47) in the first year of follow-up, and 2.82 days (1.30-6.11) (p <0.01 for both comparisons). The mean number of days of hospitalization for other cardiac causes other than HF to patient numbers was: 1.73 days (1.16-2.6), 1.81 days (1.04-3.16), and 1.32 days (0.57-3.08) (p = ns). The percentage of hospitalization for HF for each patient was: 69.5% (60.2-77.4) before inclusion, 16.2% (10-25.2) during the first year of follow-up and 19.3% (11-31.8) during the second (p < 0.001 for both comparisons). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the value of a protocolized follow-up associated with a therapeutic education program to improve the management of ambulatory CHF patients, particularly for moderate CHF.

Results of the "GER-e-TEC" Experiment Involving the Use of an Automated Platform to Detect the Exacerbation of Geriatric Syndromes.

INTRODUCTION: Telemedicine is believed to be helpful in managing patients suffering from chronic diseases, in particular elderly patients with numerous accompanying conditions. This was the basis for the "GERIATRICS and e-Technology (GER-e-TEC) study", which was an experiment involving the use of the smart MyPredi™ e-platform to automatically detect the exacerbation of geriatric syndromes. METHODS: The MyPredi™ platform is connected to a medical analysis system that receives physiological data from medical sensors in real time and analyzes this data to generate (when necessary) alerts. These alerts are issued in the event that the health of a patient deteriorates due to an exacerbation of their chronic diseases. An experiment was conducted between 24 September 2019 and 24 November 2019 to test this alert system. During this time, the platform was used on patients being monitored in an internal medicine unit at the University Hospital of Strasbourg. The alerts were compiled and analyzed in terms of sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values with respect to clinical data. The results of the experiment are provided below. RESULTS: A total of 36 patients were monitored remotely, 21 of whom were male. The mean age of the patients was 81.4 years. The patients used the telemedicine solution for an average of 22.1 days. The telemedicine solution took a total of 147,703 measurements while monitoring the geriatric risks of the entire patient group. An average of 226 measurements were taken per patient per day. The telemedicine solution generated a total of 1611 alerts while assessing the geriatric risks of the entire patient group. For each geriatric risk, an average of 45 alerts were emitted per patient, with 16 of these alerts classified as "low", 12 classified as "medium", and 20 classified as "critical". In terms of sensitivity, the results were 100% for all geriatric risks and extremely satisfactory in terms of positive and negative predictive values. In terms of survival analysis, the number of alerts had an impact on the duration of hospitalization due to decompensated heart failure, a deterioration in the general condition, and other reasons. CONCLUSION: The MyPredi™ telemedicine system allows the generation of automatic, non-intrusive alerts when the health of a patient deteriorates due to risks associated with geriatric syndromes.

Benefit of Ambulatory Management of Patients with Chronic Heart Failure by Protocolized Follow-Up Therapeutic Education and Remote Monitoring Solution: An Original Study in 159 Patients.

This study sought to determine whether the implementation of regular and structured follow-up of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), combined with therapeutic education and remote monitoring solution, leads to better management. This was a single-center retrospective study conducted in a cohort of patients with proven CHF who were followed up in the Mulhouse region (France) between January 2016 and December 2017 by the Unité de Suivi des Patients Insuffisants Cardiaques (USICAR) unit. These patients received regular protocolized follow-up, a therapeutic education program, and several used a telemedicine platform for a two-year period. The primary endpoint was the number of days hospitalized for heart failure (HF) per patient per year. The main secondary endpoints included the number of days hospitalized for a heart condition other than HF and the number of hospital stays for HF per patient. These endpoints were collected during the year preceding enrollment, at one year of follow-up, and at two years of follow-up. The remote monitoring solution was evaluated on the same criterion. Overall, 159 patients with a mean age of 72.9 years were included in this study. They all had CHF, mainly NYHA Class I-II (88.7%), predominantly of ischemic origin (50.9%), and with altered left ventricular ejection fraction in 69.2% of cases. The mean number of days hospitalized for HF per patient per year was 8.33 (6.84-10.13) in the year preceding enrollment, 2.6 (1.51-4.47) at one year of follow-up, and 2.82 at two years of follow-up (1.30-6.11) (p < 0.01 for both comparisons). The mean number of days hospitalized for a heart condition other than HF was 1.73 (1.16-2.6), 1.81 (1.04-3.16), and 1.32 (0.57-3.08), respectively (p = ns). The percentage of hospitalization for HF for each patient was 69.5% (60.2-77.4), 16.2% (10-25.2), and 19.3% (11-31.8), respectively (p < 0.001 for both comparisons). In the group telemedicine, the mean number of days hospitalized for HF per patient per year was 8.33 during the year preceding enrollment, 2.3 during the first year of follow-up, and 1.7 during the second. This difference was significant (p < 0.001). The "number of days hospitalized for a heart condition other than HF" was significantly reduced in the group of patient's beneficiating from the remote monitoring solution. This study demonstrates the value of a protocolized follow-up associated with a therapeutic optimization, therapeutic education program, and the use of a remote monitoring solution to improve the management of ambulatory patients with CHF, particularly of moderate severity.

e-Health: A Future Solution for Optimized Management of Elderly Patients. GER-e-TEC™ Project.

Background: Elderly residents in nursing homes have multiple comorbidities (including cognitive and psycho-behavioral pathologies, malnutrition, heart failure, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and renal failure) and use multiple medications. Methods: The GER-e-TEC project aims to provide these fragile and complex patients with telemedicine tools, more specifically telemonitoring, backed by a well-defined and personalized protocol. Results: Medically, this implies the need for regular monitoring and a high level of medical and multidisciplinary expertise for the healthcare team. The tools use non-invasive communicating sensors and artificial intelligence techniques, allowing daily monitoring with the ability to detect any abnormal changes in the patient's condition early. Conclusions: The GER-e-TEC project specifically considers the challenges of aging residents and significant challenges in nursing homes, with the main geriatric syndromes (falls, malnutrition, cognitive-behavioral disorders, and iatrogenic conditions).

Evaluation of the French National Program on Home Return of Patients with Chronic Heart Failure (PRADO-IC): Pilot Study of 91 Patients During Its Deployment in the Bas Rhin Area.

OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of the French national program on home return of chronic heart failure patients (PRADO-IC) in terms of re-hospitalizations for heart failure (HF) during its deployment in the Bas-Rhin (France). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a pilot, descriptive, quantitative, retrospective, and bi-centric study (University Hospitals of Strasbourg and Haguenau Hospital Center, France). It included all patients included in the PRADO-IC program from these centers between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2015. The primary endpoint of our study was the evaluation of the number of 1-year, 6-month, and 30-day re-admissions to the hospital in relation to an acute HF episode, before and after the inclusion of patients in the PRADO-IC program. The secondary endpoints were the number of overall re-hospitalizations (all-cause); the number of days of hospitalization for HF; the time to first re-hospitalization and the average length of hospital stay, before and after inclusion in PRADO-IC; and the overall and cardiovascular mortality rates. RESULTS: 91 patients out of 271 (33,6%) with a mean age of 79.2 years (67-94) were included. They all had chronic HF, essentially class II-III NYHA (90.1%), mostly of ischemic origin (41.9%), with altered left ventricular ejection fraction in 71.4% of cases. A reduction in the mean number of hospitalizations for HF per patient at 30 days, 6 months and 1 year was observed, respectively, from 0.18 ± 0.42 per patient before inclusion to 0.15 ± 0.36 after inclusion (p = 0.56); 0.98 ± 1.04 hospitalizations to 0.53 ± 0.81 at 6 months (p < 0.01); and 1.64 ± 1.14 hospitalizations 1.04 ± 1.05 at 1 year (p < 0.001). Patients were hospitalized less overall after inclusion in the PRADO-IC program. The number of days of hospitalization for HF was reduced after inclusion of patients from 18.02 ± 7.78 days before inclusion to 14.28 ± 11.57 days for the 6 month follow-up (p = 0.006), and from 22.07 ± 10.33 days before inclusion to 16.39 ± 15.94 days for the 1 year follow-up (p < 0.001). In contrast, inclusion in PRADO-IC statistically increased the mean time to first re-hospitalization for HF from mean 99.36 ± 72.39 days before inclusion to 148.11 ± 112.77 days after inclusion (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study seems to demonstrate that the PRADO-IC program could improve the management of chronic HF patients in ambulatory care, particularly regarding HF re-hospitalization. However, due to the limitations of the methodology used and the small number of patients, it is advisable to consolidate its initial results with a randomized controlled study on a larger number of patients. In our opinion, its results need to be communicated because, to our knowledge, no equivalent study exists.

Skeletal and Respiratory Muscle Dysfunctions in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare disease, which leads to the progressive loss and remodeling of the pulmonary vessels, right heart failure, and death. Different clinical presentations can be responsible for such a bad prognosis disease and the underlying mechanisms still need to be further examined. Importantly, skeletal and respiratory muscle abnormalities largely contribute to the decreased quality of life and exercise intolerance observed in patients with PAH. At the systemic level, impaired oxygen supply through reduced cardiac output and respiratory muscle dysfunctions, which potentially result in hypoxemia, is associated with altered muscles vascularization, inflammation, enhanced catabolic pathways, and impaired oxygen use through mitochondrial dysfunctions that are likely participate in PAH-related myopathy. Sharing new insights into the pathological mechanisms of PAH might help stimulate specific research areas, improving the treatment and quality of life of PAH patients. Indeed, many of these muscular impairments are reversible, strongly supporting the development of effective preventive and/or therapeutic approaches, including mitochondrial protection and exercise training.

Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases: New targets in the metabolic syndrome?

Metabolic diseases have a tremendous impact on human morbidity and mortality. Numerous targets regulating adenosine monophosphate kinase (AMPK) have been identified for treating the metabolic syndrome (MetS), and many compounds are being used or developed to increase AMPK activity. In parallel, the cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase families (PDEs) have emerged as new therapeutic targets in cardiovascular diseases, as well as in non-resolved pathologies. Since some PDE subfamilies inactivate cAMP into 5'-AMP, while the beneficial effects in MetS are related to 5'-AMP-dependent activation of AMPK, an analysis of the various controversial relationships between PDEs and AMPK in MetS appears interesting. The present review will describe the various PDE families, AMPK and molecular mechanisms in the MetS and discuss the PDEs/PDE modulators related to the tissues involved, thus supporting the discovery of original molecules and the design of new therapeutic approaches in MetS.

Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells and Platelets Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Oxidative Stress, and Circulating mtDNA in Cardiovascular Diseases.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are devastating disorders and the leading cause of mortality worldwide. The pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases is complex and multifactorial and, in the past years, mitochondrial dysfunction and excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) have gained growing attention. Indeed, CVDs can be considered as a systemic alteration, and understanding the eventual implication of circulating blood cells peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and or platelets, and particularly their mitochondrial function, ROS production, and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) releases in patients with cardiac impairments, appears worthwhile. Interestingly, reports consistently demonstrate a reduced mitochondrial respiratory chain oxidative capacity related to the degree of CVD severity and to an increased ROS production by PBMCs. Further, circulating mtDNA level was generally modified in such patients. These data are critical steps in term of cardiac disease comprehension and further studies are warranted to challenge the possible adjunct of PBMCs' and platelets' mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and circulating mtDNA as biomarkers of CVD diagnosis and prognosis. This new approach might also allow further interesting therapeutic developments.