Conclusion : Despite a systematic bias towards recruitment of individuals younger than the epidemiological average into the r and omized controlled trials , older people with heart failure did benefit from structured telephone support and telemonitoring .
While further research is required to confirm these observational findings , the evidence at h and indicates that discrimination by age alone may be not be appropriate when inviting participation in a remote monitoring service for heart failure
Background : There are few data regarding the effectiveness of remote monitoring for older people with heart failure .
We conducted a post-hoc sub- analysis of a previously published large Cochrane systematic review and meta- analysis of relevant r and omized controlled trials to determine whether structured telephone support and telemonitoring were effective in this population .
Effect of a standardized nurse case-management telephone intervention on resource use in patients with chronic heart failure.
BACKGROUND Case management is believed to promote continuity of care and decrease hospitalization rates , although few controlled trials have tested this approach . OBJECTIVE To assess the effectiveness of a st and ardized telephonic case-management intervention in decreasing re source use in patients with chronic heart failure . METHODS A r and omized controlled clinical trial was used to assess the effect of telephonic case management on re source use .  Patients were identified at hospitalization and assigned to receive 6 months of intervention ( n = 130 ) or usual care ( n = 228 ) based on the group to which their physician was r and omized .  Hospitalization rates , readmission rates , hospital days , days to first rehospitalization , multiple readmissions , emergency department visits , inpatient costs , outpatient re source use , and patient satisfaction were measured at 3 and 6 months . RESULTS The heart failure hospitalization rate was 45.7 % lower in the intervention group at 3 months ( P = .03 ) and 47.8 % lower at 6 months ( P = .01 ) . Heart failure hospital days ( P = .03 ) and multiple readmissions ( P = .03 ) were significantly lower in the intervention group at 6 months . Inpatient heart failure costs were 45.5 % lower at 6 months ( P = .04 ) . A cost saving was realized even after intervention costs were deducted . There was no evidence of cost shifting to the outpatient setting . Patient satisfaction with care was higher in the intervention group . CONCLUSIONS The reduction in hospitalizations , costs , and other re source use achieved using st and ardized telephonic case management in the early months after a heart failure admission is greater than that usually achieved with pharmaceutical therapy and comparable with other disease management approaches
Conclusion : Despite a systematic bias towards recruitment of individuals younger than the epidemiological average into the r and omized controlled trials , older people with heart failure did benefit from structured telephone support and telemonitoring .
While further research is required to confirm these observational findings , the evidence at h and indicates that discrimination by age alone may be not be appropriate when inviting participation in a remote monitoring service for heart failure
Background : There are few data regarding the effectiveness of remote monitoring for older people with heart failure .
We conducted a post-hoc sub- analysis of a previously published large Cochrane systematic review and meta- analysis of relevant r and omized controlled trials to determine whether structured telephone support and telemonitoring were effective in this population .