Telemonitoring for heart failure: a meta-analysis

Telemonitoring modalities in heart failure (HF) have been proposed as being essential for future organization and transition of HF care, however, efficacy has not been proven. A comprehensive meta-analysis of studies on home telemonitoring systems (hTMS) in HF and the effect on clinical outcomes are provided.

A systematic literature search was performed in four bibliographic databases, including randomized trials and observational studies that were published during January 1996–July 2022. A random-effects meta-analysis was carried out comparing hTMS with standard of care. All-cause mortality, first HF hospitalization, and total HF hospitalizations were evaluated as study endpoints. Sixty-five non-invasive hTMS studies and 27 invasive hTMS studies enrolled 36 549 HF patients, with a mean follow-up of 11.5 months. In patients using hTMS compared with standard of care, a significant 16% reduction in all-cause mortality was observed [pooled odds ratio (OR): 0.84, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.77–0.93, I²: 24%], as well as a significant 19% reduction in first HF hospitalization (OR: 0.81, 95% CI 0.74–0.88, I²: 22%) and a 15% reduction in total HF hospitalizations (pooled incidence rate ratio: 0.85, 95% CI 0.76–0.96, I²: 70%).

These results are an advocacy for the use of hTMS in HF patients to reduce all-cause mortality and HF-related hospitalizations. Still, the methods of hTMS remain diverse, so future research should strive to standardize modes of effective hTMS.