Use of eHealth in the management of pulmonary arterial hypertension: review of the literature

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a severe chronic condition associated with poor quality of life and high risks of mortality and hospitalisation. The utilisation of novel diagnostic technologies has improved survival rates although the effectiveness of Electronic Health (eHealth) interventions in patients with a chronic cardiopulmonary disease remains controversial. As the effectiveness of eHealth can be established by specific evaluation for different chronic health conditions, the aim of this study was to explore and summarise the utilisation of eHealth in PAH. METHOD: We searched PubMed, CINAHL and Embase for all studies reporting clinical trials on eHealth solutions for the management of PAH. No limitations in terms of study design or date of publication were imposed. RESULTS: 18 studies (6 peer-reviewed journal papers and 12 conference papers) were identified. Seven studies addressed the accuracy, safety or reliability of eHealth technologies such as intra-arterial haemodynamic monitoring of the pulmonary artery pressure, self-administered 6-Minute walk test App, computerised step-pulse oximeter and ambulatory impedance cardiography. Two studies evaluated eHealth as part of the medical management and showed a reduction in hospitalisation rate. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence of eHealth supporting the management of people with PAH is limited and only embraced through a few studies of small sample size and short-term duration. Given the proposed clinical benefits in heart failure, we postulate that the evaluation of eHealth for the clinical management of PAH is highly warranted.