Patient-reported outcomes in symptom-driven remote arrhythmia monitoring: evaluation of the Dutch HartWacht-telemonitoring programme

AIMS: There is limited quantitative evidence on the effect of symptom-driven telemonitoring for cardiac arrhythmias on patient-reported outcomes. We evaluated the effect of a symptom-driven remote arrhythmia monitoring programme on the patient-reported health-related quality of life (HRQoL), sense of safety, physical limitations, and self-management. METHODS AND RESULTS: This was an observational retrospective longitudinal study of the symptom-driven HartWacht-telemonitoring programme using a remote single-lead electrocardiogram monitoring system. Real-world patient data from participants who were enrolled in the telemonitoring programme for (suspected) symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF) between July 2017 and September 2019 were evaluated. Primary outcomes were the patient-reported generic HRQoL, disease-specific HRQoL, sense of safety, physical limitations, and self-management at date of enrolment, 3 months and 6 months of follow-up. Outcomes were compared to a historical control group consisting of AF patients receiving standard care. A total of 109 participants in the HartWacht programme [59 men (54%); mean age 61 ± 11 years; 72% diagnosed AF] were included in complete case analysis. There was no significant change in HRQoL and sense of safety during follow-up. A significant improvement in the perceived physical limitations was observed. The level of self-management declined significantly during follow-up. Comparisons to the historic control group (n = 83) showed no difference between the patient-reported disease-specific HRQoL, sense of safety and physical limitations at 6 months of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Symptom-driven remote arrhythmia monitoring for AF does not seem to affect HRQoL and sense of safety, whereas the perceived physical limitations tend to improve. Patient-reported self-management declined during the first 6 months of participation.