Remote Patient Monitoring For Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular diseases affect more than 121.5 million adults in the United States, making it the leading cause of death in the country. Treating these disorders through remote cardiac monitoring has brought about promising results. Research shows that the use of remote patient monitoring devices can cause a decrease in blood pressure, detect cardiac arrhythmia earlier, and detect HP decomposition, all of which reduce the risk of chronic cardiovascular disorders.

Let us delve deeper into the benefits of remote patient monitoring for cardiovascular disease and determine its usefulness.

Reducing and Managing Hypertension

The American Heart Association reports that monitoring hypertension through remote patient monitoring and a blood pressure cuff has higher benefits than self-monitoring. Patients report improvement in both diastolic and systolic blood pressure, which can increase over time through regular interaction between a healthcare professional and a patient. A study in Clinical Cardiology reported that on an average of seven weeks on the program, more than 91% of patients who followed a weekly blood pressure monitoring protocol reached a target of less than 135/85 mm Hg BP.

Besides helping people with hypertension deal with this disease, remote patient monitoring acts as a preventive measure to keep a patient’s condition from worsening into cardiovascular disorders.

Managing Heart Failure

Remote patient monitoring software also includes portable devices and implantable ones, thus advancing the physiological data points list for cardiovascular disorders. Recent studies have shown that implantable electronic RPM devices can lower cardiac hospitalizations by 19% and cardiology-related emergency room visits by 28%. Such devices also reduced the total hospital stay length by 51% compared to patients not using remote patient monitoring devices.

Detecting Atrial Fibrillation

Remote patient monitoring is highly beneficial in facilitating early cardiac arrhythmia detection. A study conducted on patients with various kinds of remote patient monitoring implantable devices showed benefits in early detection of this disorder, irrespective of RPM device type. The devices included implantable cardioverter defibrillators, pacemakers, and cardiac resynchronization therapy with defibrillation or pacing capability. Additionally, those with an implanted RPM device also showed lower all-cause mortality than those without.

RPM Benefits for Cardiology Patients

A common misconception that revolves around remote patient monitoring is that older patients are less likely to adapt to innovative technological devices. Extensive research has shown promising results in this category, as more and more older Americans are tilting towards technology use to connect with family and friends. According to the Pew Research Center, more than 91% of U.S. adults over the age of 65 own a cell phone, and about half of them use smartphones. Therefore, they do not face many difficulties adjusting to the technology used in remote patient monitoring.

RPM benefits for cardiology patients can be immense as this technology allows patients to take an active part in their health, reducing costs and enhancing outcomes. RPM helps eliminate healthcare barriers, including geographical location, transportation, financial complications, climate, and others. It also reduces the number of emergency room visits, in-office consultations, and hospitalization ratio. Since patients play an active role in their diagnosis and treatment, RPM encourages them to take action and make informed decisions about changing health dynamics. RPM also helps medical professionals attain a better insight into their patient’s condition, allowing them to devise treatment plans according to their medical reactions, reduce their medications, or make effective prescribing decisions.

The benefits of remote patient monitoring in cardiology transcend the borders of individual health. Since RPM reduces the hospital stay duration and hospital admissions related to cardiology, it also decreases the crippling economic burden of these disorders. Cardiovascular disorders and stroke account for about $214 billion in healthcare costs annually in the United States and a $138 billion loss in productivity. Therefore, using remote patient monitoring as a means of preventive care in cardiology helps reduce these costs to the healthcare system and the broader economy.

Why does Cardiology need RPM?

Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlight the reasons behind the augmenting demand for remote patient monitoring in cardiology. Estimates show that about one out of two adults in the United States suffer from hypertension, with a considerable majority failing to control their blood pressure. Statistics also show that more than 6.1 million individuals in the U.S. suffer from atrial fibrillation, and these figures are not expected to dwindle anytime soon. They may increase as the population continues to age. Data from CDC also indicates that more than 42% of the American population fell under the category of obese from 2017 to 2018, an increase from about 31% from 1999 to 2000.

American board-certified and fellowship-trained cardiology professionals at SmartClinix offer specialized remote patient monitoring services, and you can avail of them at the lowest cost possible by booking an online appointment today! Head over to SmartClinix to know more.