CHAMPION trial rationale and design: the long-term safety and clinical efficacy of a wireless pulmonary artery pressure monitoring system

Soft Bioelectronics for Heart Monitoring

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a predominant global health concern, accounting for over 17.9 million deaths in 2019, representing approximately 32% of all global fatalities. In North America and Europe, over a million adults undergo cardiac surgeries annually. Despite the benefits, such surgeries pose risks and require precise postsurgery monitoring. However, during the postdischarge period, where monitoring infrastructures are limited, continuous monitoring of vital signals is hindered. In this area, the introduction of implantable electronics is altering medical practices by enabling real-time and out-of-hospital monitoring of physiological signals and biological information postsurgery. The multimodal implantable bioelectronic platforms have the capability of continuous heart sensing and stimulation, in both postsurgery and out-of-hospital settings. Furthermore, with the emergence of machine learning algorithms into healthcare devices, next-generation implantables will benefit artificial intelligence (AI) and connectivity with skin-interfaced electronics to provide more precise and user-specific results. This Review outlines recent advancements in implantable bioelectronics and their utilization in cardiovascular health monitoring, highlighting their transformative deployment in sensing and stimulation to the heart toward reaching truly personalized healthcare platforms compatible with the Sustainable Development Goal 3.4 of the WHO 2030 observatory roadmap. This Review also discusses the challenges and future prospects of these devices.

Clinical Trial Inclusion and Impact on Early Adoption of Medical Innovation in Diverse Populations

BACKGROUND

Inadequate inclusion in clinical trial enrollment may contribute to health inequities by evaluating interventions in cohorts that do not fully represent target populations.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to determine if characteristics of patients with heart failure (HF) enrolled in a pivotal trial are associated with who receives an intervention after approval.

METHODS

Demographics from 2,017,107 Medicare patients hospitalized for HF were compared with those of the first 10,631 Medicare beneficiaries who received implantable pulmonary artery pressure sensors. Characteristics of the population studied in the pivotal CHAMPION (CardioMEMS Heart Sensor Allows Monitoring of Pressure to Improve Outcomes in NYHA Class III Heart Failure Patients) clinical trial (n = 550) were compared with those of both groups. All demographic data were analyzed nationally and in 4 U.S. regions.

RESULTS

The Medicare HF cohort included 80.9% White, 13.3% African American, 1.9% Hispanic, 1.3% Asian, and 51.5% female patients. Medicare patients <65 years of age were more likely to be African American (33%) and male (58%), whereas older patients were mostly White (84%) and female (53%). Forty-one percent of U.S. HF hospitalizations occurred in the South; demographic characteristics varied significantly across all U.S. regions. The CHAMPION trial adequately represented African Americans (23% overall, 35% <65 years of age), Hispanic Americans (2%), and Asian Americans (1%) but underrepresented women (27%). The trial's population characteristics were similar to those of the first patients who received pulmonary artery sensors (82% White, 13% African American, 1% Asian, 1% Hispanic, and 29% female).

CONCLUSIONS

Demographics of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services beneficiaries hospitalized with HF vary regionally and by age, which should be considered when defining "adequate" representation in clinical studies. Enrollment diversity in clinical trials may affect who receives early application of recently approved innovations.

Implementation of an epicardial implantable MEMS sensor for continuous and real-time postoperative assessment of left ventricular activity in adult minipigs over a short- and long-term period

The sensing of left ventricular (LV) activity is fundamental in the diagnosis and monitoring of cardiovascular health in high-risk patients after cardiac surgery to achieve better short- and long-term outcome. Conventional approaches rely on noninvasive measurements even if, in the latest years, invasive microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) sensors have emerged as a valuable approach for precise and continuous monitoring of cardiac activity. The main challenges in designing cardiac MEMS sensors are represented by miniaturization, biocompatibility, and long-term stability. Here, we present a MEMS piezoresistive cardiac sensor capable of continuous monitoring of LV activity over time following epicardial implantation with a pericardial patch graft in adult minipigs. In acute and chronic scenarios, the sensor was able to compute heart rate with a root mean square error lower than 2 BPM. Early after up to 1 month of implantation, the device was able to record the heart activity during the most important phases of the cardiac cycle (systole and diastole peaks). The sensor signal waveform, in addition, closely reflected the typical waveforms of pressure signal obtained via intraventricular catheters, offering a safer alternative to heart catheterization. Furthermore, histological analysis of the LV implantation site following sensor retrieval revealed no evidence of myocardial fibrosis. Our results suggest that the epicardial LV implantation of an MEMS sensor is a suitable and reliable approach for direct continuous monitoring of cardiac activity. This work envisions the use of this sensor as a cardiac sensing device in closed-loop applications for patients undergoing heart surgery.

Hemodynamic Monitoring of Pediatric Patients With Heart Failure and Pulmonary Hypertension Using CardioMEMS

Background

The CardioMEMS is an implantable device for hemodynamic monitoring approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for adult patients with heart failure. It has been used in the adult population without structural heart disease and with congenital heart diseases, but we do not have data in the pediatric population.

Methods

We report the initial single-center experience of the CardioMEMS implantation in children. Feasibility of device implantation, procedural outcomes, and clinical utility in the pediatric population were evaluated.

Results

The CardioMEMS device was implanted without technical complications in 8 pediatric patients (mean age 7 years and mean weight 27.9 kg) with pulmonary hypertension (6/8, 75%) and heart failure (2/8, 25%). The device was delivered via femoral access in 7 (85%) patients and implanted in the left pulmonary artery in 7 (85%). The noninvasive recording of pulmonary pressures in patients with pulmonary hypertension allowed the monitoring of the evolution of mean pulmonary artery pressure, intensifying vasodilator treatment, and avoiding control cardiac catheterizations. In patients with heart failure, pulmonary hemodynamic monitoring guided the decongestive treatment prior to heart transplantation.

Conclusions

The implantation of CardioMEMS in the pediatric population is a feasible procedure that allows the noninvasive hemodynamic monitoring of patients with heart failure and pulmonary hypertension. Its implementation in selected patients aids in outpatient follow-up and therapeutic management of patients with complex cardiac conditions, avoiding invasive procedures that require hospitalization. Further large-scale studies in the pediatric population are recommended.

An Era of Digital Healthcare-A Comprehensive Review of Sensor Technologies and Telehealth Advancements in Chronic Heart Failure Management

Heart failure (HF) is a multi-faceted, complex clinical syndrome characterized by significant morbidity, high mortality rate, reduced quality of life, and rapidly increasing healthcare costs. A larger proportion of these costs comprise both ambulatory and emergency department visits, as well as hospital admissions. Despite the methods used by telehealth (TH) to improve self-care and quality of life, patient outcomes remain poor. HF management is associated with numerous challenges, such as conflicting evidence from clinical trials, heterogeneity of TH devices, variability in patient inclusion and exclusion criteria, and discrepancies between healthcare systems. A growing body of evidence suggests there is an unmet need for increased individualization of in-hospital management, continuous remote monitoring of patients pre and post-hospital admission, and continuation of treatment post-discharge in order to reduce re-hospitalizations and improve long-term outcomes. This review summarizes the current state-of-the-art for HF and associated novel technologies and advancements in the most frequently used types of TH (implantable sensors), categorizing devices in their preclinical and clinical stage, bench-to-bedside implementation challenges, and future perspectives on remote HF management to improve long-term outcomes of HF patients. The Review also highlights recent advancements in non-invasive remote monitoring technologies demonstrated by a few pilot observational prospective cohort studies.

Miniature battery-free epidural cortical stimulators

Miniaturized neuromodulation systems could improve the safety and reduce the invasiveness of bioelectronic neuromodulation. However, as implantable bioelectronic devices are made smaller, it becomes difficult to store enough power for long-term operation in batteries. Here, we present a battery-free epidural cortical stimulator that is only 9 millimeters in width yet can safely receive enough wireless power using magnetoelectric antennas to deliver 14.5-volt stimulation bursts, which enables it to stimulate cortical activity on-demand through the dura. The device has digitally programmable stimulation output and centimeter-scale alignment tolerances when powered by an external transmitter. We demonstrate that this device has enough power and reliability for real-world operation by showing acute motor cortex activation in human patients and reliable chronic motor cortex activation for 30 days in a porcine model. This platform opens the possibility of simple surgical procedures for precise neuromodulation.

Implantable Hemodynamic Monitors Improve Survival in Patients With Heart Failure and Reduced Ejection Fraction

BACKGROUND

Trials evaluating implantable hemodynamic monitors to manage patients with heart failure (HF) have shown reductions in HF hospitalizations but not mortality. Prior meta-analyses assessing mortality have been limited in construct because of an absence of patient-level data, short-term follow-up duration, and evaluation across the combined spectrum of ejection fractions.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this meta-analysis was to determine whether management with implantable hemodynamic monitors reduces mortality in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and to confirm the effect of hemodynamic-monitoring guided management on HF hospitalization reduction reported in previous studies.

METHODS

The patient-level pooled meta-analysis used 3 randomized studies (GUIDE-HF [Hemodynamic-Guided Management of Heart Failure], CHAMPION [CardioMEMS Heart Sensor Allows Monitoring of Pressure to Improve Outcomes in NYHA Class III Heart Failure Patients], and LAPTOP-HF [Left Atrial Pressure Monitoring to Optimize Heart Failure Therapy]) of implantable hemodynamic monitors (2 measuring pulmonary artery pressures and 1 measuring left atrial pressure) to assess the effect on all-cause mortality and HF hospitalizations.

RESULTS

A total of 1,350 patients with HFrEF were included. Hemodynamic-monitoring guided management significantly reduced overall mortality with an HR of 0.75 (95% CI: 0.57-0.99); P = 0.043. HF hospitalizations were significantly reduced with an HR of 0.64 (95% CI: 0.55-0.76); P < 0.0001.

CONCLUSIONS

Management of patients with HFrEF using an implantable hemodynamic monitor significantly reduces both mortality and HF hospitalizations. The reduction in HF hospitalizations is seen early in the first year of monitoring and mortality benefits occur after the first year.

Remote Monitoring Devices and Heart Failure

Remote patient monitoring (RPM) in patients with heart failure (HF) involves transmitting physiological data from devices to a health-care provider via a wireless connection with targeted interventions when values exceed the preset threshold. Devices used in telemonitoring range from weighing scales, blood pressure cuffs, and pulse oximeters to devices used to measure cardiac filling pressure and intrathoracic impedance using cardiac implantable electronic devices and wearables. Accordingly, RPM devices can potentially engage patients in their cardiovascular care and reduce the burden of HF in society.

CS1, a controlled-release formulation of valproic acid, for the treatment of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension: Rationale and design of a Phase 2 clinical trial

Although rare, pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is associated with substantial morbidity and a median survival of approximately 7 years, even with treatment. Current medical therapies have a primarily vasodilatory effect and do not modify the underlying pathology of the disease. CS1 is a novel oral, controlled-release formulation of valproic acid, which exhibits a multi-targeted mode of action (pulmonary pressure reduction, reversal of vascular remodeling, anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic, and anti-thrombotic) and therefore potential for disease modification and right ventricular modeling in patients with PAH. A Phase 1 study conducted in healthy volunteers indicated favorable safety and tolerability, with no increased risk of bleeding and significant reduction of plasminogen activator inhibitor 1. In an ongoing randomized Phase 2 clinical trial, three doses of open-label CS1 administered for 12 weeks is evaluating the use of multiple outcome measures. The primary endpoint is safety and tolerability, as measured by the occurrence of adverse events. Secondary outcome measures include the use of the CardioMEMS™ HF System, which provides a noninvasive method of monitoring pulmonary artery pressure, as well as cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and echocardiography. Other outcomes include changes in risk stratification (using the REVEAL 2.0 and REVEAL Lite 2 tools), patient reported outcomes, functional capacity, 6-min walk distance, actigraphy, and biomarkers. The pharmacokinetic profile of CS1 will also be evaluated. Overall, the novel design and unique, extensive clinical phenotyping of participants in this trial will provide ample evidence to inform the design of any future Phase 3 studies with CS1.

Conduction System Pacing: Have We Finally Found the Holy Grail of Physiological Pacing?

The late fifties are considered a high point in the history of cardiac pacing, since this era is marked by the first pacemaker implantation, which has since evolved into life-saving therapy. Right ventricular apical and biventricular pacing are the classic techniques that are recommended as first-l ine approaches for most indications in current guidelines. However, conduction system pacing has emerged as being able to deliver a more physiological form of pacing and is becoming mainstream practice in a growing number of centres. In this review, we aim to compare traditional pacing methods with conduction system pacing.

A Personalized Approach to the Management of Congestion in Acute Heart Failure

Heart failure (HF) is the common final pathway of several conditions and is characterized by hyperactivation of numerous neurohumoral pathways. Cardiorenal interaction plays an essential role in the progression of the disease, and the use of diuretics is a cornerstone in the treatment of hypervolemic patients, especially in acute decompensated HF (ADHF). The management of congestion is complex and, to avoid misinterpretations and errors, one must understand the interface between the heart and the kidneys in ADHF. Congestion itself may impair renal function and must be treated aggressively. Transitory elevations in serum creatinine during decongestion is not associated with worse outcomes and diuretics should be maintained in patients with clear hypervolemia. Monitoring urinary sodium after diuretic administration seems to improve the response to diuretics as it allows for adjustments in doses and a personalized approach. Adequate assessment of volemia and the introduction and titration of guideline-directed medical therapy are mandatory before discharge. An early visit after discharge is highly recommended, to assess for residual congestion and thus avoid readmissions.

Hemodynamic Monitoring Devices in the Management of Outpatient Heart Failure

The prevalence of heart failure continues to increase throughout the world. This rise in diagnoses corresponds with high rates of hospitalization, patient and caregiver fatigue, and ever-increasing economic costs. While numerous investigations have been undertaken in the past looking into remote monitoring or telemedicine strategies, they were unable to show an improvement in clinical outcomes with use. Invasive hemodynamic monitoring in the ambulatory setting has been an area of focus for the last several decades as a possible proactive strategy aiding in the evaluation and management of the heart failure population. Several large, randomized trials have not only shown the safety of a pulmonary artery pressure sensor in the heart failure population but have also confirmed the efficacy of pulmonary artery pressure-guided heart failure management in reducing rates of heart failure hospitalizations. Additional novel implantable devices are in various stages of development and clinical investigation and aim to further help aid in the management of this complex patient population. Future strategies are emerging and include the increased development of wearable devices as well as novel technologies to assess hemodynamics and volume status.

Heart Failure Remote Monitoring: A Review and Implementation How-To

Heart failure (HF) is a significant clinical and financial burden worldwide. Remote monitoring (RM) devices capable of identifying early physiologic changes in decompensation have the potential to reduce the HF burden. However, few trials have discussed at length the practical aspects of implementing RM in real-world clinical practice. The present paper reviews current RM devices and clinical trials, focusing on patient populations, outcomes, data collection, storage, and management, and describes the implementation of an RM device in clinical practice, providing a pragmatic and adaptable framework.

Noninvasive assessment of pulmonary congestion in heart failure: Need of the hour

Early pulmonary congestion detection and surveillance in acute heart failure patients can prevent decompensation, minimize hospitalizations, and improve prognosis. In India, the warm and wet types of HF are still the most common types and residual congestion at discharge is still a significant concern. Thus, there is an urgent need for a reliable and sensitive means of identifying residual and subclinical congestion. Two such monitoring systems are available and approved by US FDA. These include CardioMEMS HF System (Abbott, Sylmar, California) and ReDS System (Sensible Medical Innovations, Ltd., Nanya, Israel). CardioMEMS is a wireless pressure-sensitive implantable device, while ReDS is a wearable noninvasive device for measurement of the lung fluid and hence direct detection of PC. This review discusses the role of noninvasive assessment in PC monitoring in patients with heart failure and its implications from an Indian perspective.

Implantable Cardiovascular Devices: Current and Emerging Technologies for Remote Heart Failure Monitoring

Heart failure remains a substantial socioeconomic burden to our health care system. With the aging of the population, the incidence is expected to rise in the ensuing years. Standard heart failure management strategies have failed to reduce hospitalizations and mortality. In patients with heart failure, remote hemodynamic monitoring with implantable devices provides essential data, which can be used in unison with standard patient management to reduce heart failure hospitalizations. This review will chronicle the important clinical trials of various implantable devices and describe the emerging technologies in remote heart failure management. Cardiovascular implantable electronic devices, namely implanted cardioverter-defibrillator and cardiac resynchronization therapy devices with defibrillator, have evolved beyond sole resynchronization and currently can deliver real-time cardiac hemodynamics. Clinical data regarding hemodynamic monitoring with implanted cardioverter-defibrillator and cardiac resynchronization therapy devices with defibrillator have not consistently demonstrated a reduction in heart failure or mortality benefit. However, there is promise in the future with the application of multiparameter diagnostic algorithms with these devices. The most efficacious implantable device has been the pulmonary artery pressure sensor, CardioMEMS. This device has been proven to be safe and shown to reduce heart failure hospitalizations. Moreover, multiple newly developed devices are currently under investigation after successful first-in-man studies.

Clinical Pathways Guided by Remotely Monitoring Cardiac Device Data: The Future of Device Heart Failure Management?

Research examining the utility of cardiac device data to manage patients with heart failure (HF) is rapidly evolving. COVID-19 has reignited interest in remote monitoring, with manufacturers each developing and testing new ways to detect acute HF episodes, risk stratify patients and support self-care. As standalone diagnostic tools, individual physiological metrics and algorithm-based systems have demonstrated utility in predicting future events, but the integration of remote monitoring data with existing clinical care pathways for device HF patients is not well described. This narrative review provides an overview of device-based HF diagnostics available to care providers in the UK, and describes the current state of play with regard to how these systems fit in with current HF management.

Ambulatory pulmonary artery pressure monitoring reduces costs and improves outcomes in symptomatic heart failure: a single center Canadian experience

Background

Pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) monitoring reduces heart failure (HF) hospitalizations (HFHs) and improves quality of life in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III HF. We evaluated the impact of PAP monitoring on outcomes and health spending in a Canadian ambulatory HF cohort.

Methods

Twenty NYHA III HF patients underwent wireless PAP implantation at Foothills Medical Centre, Calgary, Alberta. Baseline, and 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-month assessments of laboratory parameters, hemodynamics, 6-minute walk text and Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire scores were collected. Healthcare costs 1 year pre- and post-implantation were collected from administrative databases.

Results

Mean age was 70.6 years; 45% were female. Results were as follows: an 88% reduction in emergency room visits (P = 0.0009); an 87% reduction in HFHs (P < 0.0003); a 29% reduction in heart function clinic visits (P = 0.033), and a 178% increase in nurse calls (P < 0.0002). Questionnaire and 6-minute walk test scores at baseline vs last follow-up were 45.4 vs 48.4 (P = 0.48) and 364.4 vs 402.8 m (P = 0.58), respectively. Mean PAP at baseline vs follow-up was 31.5 vs 24.8 mm Hg (P = 0.005). NYHA class improved by at least one class in 85% of patients. Mean measurable HF-related spending preimplantation was CAD$29,814 per patient per year and postimplantation was CAD$25,642 per patient per year (including device cost).

Conclusions

PAP monitoring demonstrated reductions in HFHs, and emergency room and heart function clinic visits, with improvements in NYHA class. Although further economic evaluation is needed, these results support the use of PAP monitoring as an effective and cost-neutral tool in HF management in appropriately selected patients in a publicly funded healthcare system.

Clinical Reasoning in Cardiology: Past, Present and Future

Clinical reasoning was born 2,500 years ago with Hippocrates, having evolved over the centuries, becoming a mixture of art and science. Several personalities throughout history have contributed to improving diagnostic accuracy. Nonetheless, diagnostic error is still common and causes a severe impact on healthcare systems. To face this challenge, several clinical reasoning models have emerged to systematize the clinical thinking process. This paper describes the history of clinical reasoning and current diagnostic reasoning methods, proposes a new clinical reasoning model, called Integrative Reasoning, and brings perspectives about the future of clinical reasoning.

Decongestion Models and Metrics in Acute Heart Failure: ESCAPE Data in the Age of the Implantable Cardiac Pressure Monitor

The United States Food and Drug Administration restricts the use of implantable cardiac pressure monitors to patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III heart failure (HF). We investigated whether single-pressure monitoring could predict survival in HF patients as part of a model constructed using data from the ESCAPE (Evaluation Study of Congestive Heart Failure and Pulmonary Artery Catheterization Effectiveness) trial. We validated survival models in 204 patients, using all-cause 180-day mortality. Two levels of model complexity were tested: 1) a simplified 1-pressure model based on pulmonary artery mean pressure ([PAM]1P) (information obtainable from an implanted intracardiac monitor alone), and 2) a pair of 5-variable risk score models based on right atrial pressure (RAP) + pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) ([RAP+PCWP]5V) and on RAP + PAM ([RAP+PAM]5V). The more complex models used 5 dichotomous variables: a congestion index above a certain threshold value, baseline systolic blood pressure of <100 mmHg, baseline blood urea nitrogen level of ≥ 34 mg/dL, need for cardiopulmonary resuscitation or mechanical ventilation, and posttreatment NYHA class IV status. The congestion index was defined as posttreatment RAP+PCWP or posttreatment RAP+PAM, with congestion thresholds of 34 and 42 mmHg, respectively (median pulmonary catheter indwelling time, 1.9 d). The 5-variable models predicted survival with areas under the curve of 0.868 for the (RAP+PCWP)5V model and 0.827 for the (RAP+PAM)5V model, whereas the 1-pressure model predicted survival with an area under the curve of 0.718. We conclude that decongestion as determined by hemodynamic assessment predicts survival in HF patients and that it may be the final pathway for treatment benefit despite improvements in pharmacologic intervention since the ESCAPE trial.

Predictive Model for Heart Failure Readmission Using Nationwide Readmissions Database

Objective

To generate a heart failure (HF) readmission prediction model using the Nationwide Readmissions Database to guide management and reduce HF readmissions.

Patients and Methods

A retrospective analysis was performed for patients listed for HF admissions in the Nationwide Readmissions Database from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2014. A Cox proportional hazards model for sample survey data for the prediction of readmission for all patients with HF was implemented using a derivation cohort (2010-2012). We generated receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and estimated area under the ROC curve at each time point (30, 60, 90, and 180 days) to assess the accuracy of our predictive model using the derivation cohort (2010-2012) and compared it with the validation cohort (2013-2014). A risk score was computed for the validation cohort. On the basis of the total risk score, we calculated the probability of readmission at 30, 60, 90, and 180 days.

Results

Approximately 1,420,564 patients were admitted for HF, contributing to 1,817,735 total HF admissions. Of these, 665,867 patients had at least 1 readmission for HF. The 10 most common comorbidities for readmitted patients included hypertension, diabetes mellitus, renal failure, chronic pulmonary disease, deficiency anemia, fluid and electrolyte disorders, obesity, hypothyroidism, peripheral vascular disorders, and depression. The area under the ROC curve for the prediction model was 0.58 in the derivation cohort and 0.59 in the validation cohort.

Conclusion

The prediction model will find clinical utility at point of care in optimizing the management of patients with HF and reducing HF readmissions.

Ambulatory factors influencing pulmonary artery pressure waveforms and implications for clinical practice

CardioMEMS, a remote pulmonary artery pressure monitoring system, provides waveform patterns for the ambulatory heart failure patient. These waveforms provide significant insights into patient volume and clinical management. We aim to provide a foundation for understanding the determinants of waveform characteristics and provide practical examples illustrating how to interpret and integrate common scenario waveforms into clinical decision-making. A total of three groups of relevant scenarios were included namely (a) location and activity at time of waveform transmission, (b) impact of contemporary interventions, and (c) arrhythmias. We illustrate that waveform analysis can be individualized to each patient's care strategy in the appropriate clinical context to help guide clinical decision-making.

Remote invasive monitoring of pulmonary artery pressures in heart failure patients: Initial experience in Portugal in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic

Background

Decompensated heart failure (HF) is associated with poor short- and long-term prognosis. Remote invasive monitoring of pulmonary artery pressures (PAP) enables early detection of HF decompensation before symptoms occur and may improve clinical outcomes. We aimed to describe our initial experience with the use of the CardioMEMS™ remote monitoring system in patients with HF, including its safety and effectiveness.

Methods and results

Five patients with HF in New York Heart Association class III and at least one hospitalization due to decompensated HF in last 12 months, who underwent invasive remote monitoring of PAP, were included in this prospective registry. The median age was 66.0 years (interquartile range [IQR] 50.5-77.5 years), 80.0% were men and all had HF with reduced ejection fraction. The pulmonary artery (PA) sensor was placed in a left PA branch in all patients and no major procedural complications occurred. In median follow-up of 40 days (IQR 40-61 days), a total of 271 pressure readings were transmitted, patient compliance was 100% and freedom from sensor failure 98.1%. In three patients, PAP remained within the goal during follow-up. Two patients presented an increase in PAP to values above the targets, despite the absence of symptom worsening. These required dietary and diuretic dose adjustment, without the need for outpatient clinic visits, which reduced PAP. No hospitalizations for HF or deaths occurred during follow-up.

Conclusion

Hemodynamic-guided HF monitoring was safe and effective and may be a useful adjunctive tool to the standard-of-care management in selected HF patients, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, where a reduction in the number of health care visits may be desirable.

Contemporary Review of Hemodynamic Monitoring in the Critical Care Setting

Hemodynamic assessment remains the most valuable adjunct to physical examination and laboratory assessment in the diagnosis and management of shock. Through the years, multiple modalities to measure and trend hemodynamic indices have evolved with varying degrees of invasiveness. Pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) has long been considered the gold standard of hemodynamic assessment in critically ill patients and in recent years has been shown to improve clinical outcomes among patients in cardiogenic shock. The invasive nature of PAC is often cited as its major limitation and has encouraged development of less invasive technologies. In this review, the authors summarize the literature on the mechanism and validation of several minimally invasive and noninvasive modalities available in the contemporary intensive care unit. They also provide an update on the use of focused bedside echocardiography.

Large pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm after CardioMEMS implantation: a case report

Background

CardioMEMS heart failure (HF) system is an implantable wireless pressure sensor that is placed in a branch of the pulmonary artery (PA) for remote monitoring of PA pressures in patients with HF. Pulmonary artery injury/haemoptysis can occur during the sensor placement.

Case summary

An 80-year-old male patient with HF with reduced ejection fraction (20%) underwent CardioMEMS HF system implantation for recurrent shortness of breath. He developed haemoptysis and dyspnoea during the procedure, which was managed with furosemide. The patient’s computerized tomographic angiography showed a 3.4 cm pseudoaneurysm with active extravasation from the superior segmental branch of the left PA due to injury during device placement. The decision to embolize the pseudoaneurysm was made after a multi-disciplinary team meeting and discussion with the patient. The embolization procedure was carried out successfully with the final left pulmonary angiogram showed complete stasis and no further filling of the pseudoaneurysm sac.

Discussion

The incidence of mortality in patients with PA injury from CardioMEMS devices is high, and therefore prompt diagnosis and management are critical. Pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysms are uncommon and present with haemoptysis. Transcatheter embolization has been shown to be a practical, effective, and safe therapeutic option in stable patients.

Estimation of Changes in Intracardiac Hemodynamics Using Wearable Seismocardiography and Machine Learning in Patients with Heart Failure: A Feasibility Study

OBJECTIVE

Tracking changes in hemodynamic congestion and the consequent proactive readjustment of treatment has shown efficacy in reducing hospitalizations for patients with heart failure (HF). However, the cost-prohibitive nature of these invasive sensing systems precludes their usage in the large patient population affected by HF. The objective of this research is to estimate the changes in pulmonary artery mean pressure (PAM) and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) following vasodilator infusion during right heart catheterization (RHC), using changes in simultaneously recorded wearable seismocardiogram (SCG) signals captured with a small wearable patch.

METHODS

A total of 20 patients with HF (20% women, median age 55 (interquartile range (IQR), 44-64) years, ejection fraction 24 (IQR, 16-43)) were fitted with a wearable sensing patch and underwent RHC with vasodilator challenge. We divided the dataset randomly into a trainingtesting set (n=15) and a separate validation set (n=5). We developed globalized (population) regression models to estimate changes in PAM and PCWP from the changes in simultaneously recorded SCG.

RESULTS

The regression model estimated both pressures with good accuracies: root-mean-square-error (RMSE) of 2.5 mmHg and R2 of 0.83 for estimating changes in PAM, and RMSE of 1.9 mmHg and R2 of 0.93 for estimating changes in PCWP for the training-testing set, and RMSE of 2.7 mmHg and R2 of 0.81 for estimating changes in PAM, and RMSE of 2.9 mmHg and R2 of 0.95 for estimating changes in PCWP for the validation set respectively.

CONCLUSION

Changes in wearable SCG signals may be used to track acute changes in intracardiac hemodynamics in patients with HF.

SIGNIFICANCE

This method holds promise in tracking longitudinal changes in hemodynamic congestion in hemodynamically-guided remote home monitoring and treatment for patients with HF.

Remote Speech Analysis in the Evaluation of Hospitalized Patients With Acute Decompensated Heart Failure

OBJECTIVES

This study assessed the performance of an automated speech analysis technology in detecting pulmonary fluid overload in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF).

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary edema is the main cause of heart failure (HF)-related hospitalizations and a key predictor of poor postdischarge prognosis. Frequent monitoring is often recommended, but signs of decompensation are often missed. Voice and sound analysis technologies have been shown to successfully identify clinical conditions that affect vocal cord vibration mechanics.

METHODS

Adult patients with ADHF (n = 40) recorded 5 sentences, in 1 of 3 languages, using HearO, a proprietary speech processing and analysis application, upon admission (wet) to and discharge (dry) from the hospital. Recordings were analyzed for 5 distinct speech measures (SMs), each a distinct time, frequency resolution, and linear versus perceptual (ear) model; mean change from baseline SMs was calculated.

RESULTS

In total, 1,484 recordings were analyzed. Discharge recordings were successfully tagged as distinctly different from baseline (wet) in 94% of cases, with distinct differences shown for all 5 SMs in 87.5% of cases. The largest change from baseline was documented for SM2 (218%). Unsupervised, blinded clustering of untagged admission and discharge recordings of 9 patients was further demonstrated for all 5 SMs.

CONCLUSIONS

Automated speech analysis technology can identify voice alterations reflective of HF status. This platform is expected to provide a valuable contribution to in-person and remote follow-up of patients with HF, by alerting to imminent deterioration, thereby reducing hospitalization rates. (Clinical Evaluation of Cordio App in Adult Patients With CHF; NCT03266029).

Real-world evidence in a national health service: results of the UK CardioMEMS HF System Post-Market Study

Aims

The CardioMEMS HF System Post‐Market Study (COAST) was designed to evaluate the safety, effectiveness, and feasibility of haemodynamic‐guided heart failure (HF) management using a small sensor implanted in the pulmonary artery of New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class III HF patients in the UK, Europe, and Australia.

Methods and results

COAST is a prospective, international, multicentre, open‐label clinical study (NCT02954341). The primary clinical endpoint compares annualized HF hospitalization rates after 1 year of haemodynamic‐guided management vs. the year prior to sensor implantation in patients with NYHA Class III symptoms and a previous HF hospitalization. The primary safety endpoints assess freedom from device/system‐related complications and pressure sensor failure after 2 years. Results from the first 100 patients implanted at 14 out of the 15 participating centres in the UK are reported here. At baseline, all patients were in NYHA Class III, 70% were male, mean age was 69 ± 12 years, and 39% had an aetiology of ischaemic cardiomyopathy. The annualized HF hospitalization rate after 12 months was 82% lower [95% confidence interval 72–88%] than the previous 12 months (0.27 vs. 1.52 events/patient‐year, respectively, P < 0.0001). Freedom from device/system‐related complications and pressure sensor failure at 2 years was 100% and 99%, respectively.

Conclusions

Remote haemodynamic‐guided HF management, using frequent assessment of pulmonary artery pressures, was successfully implemented at 14 specialist centres in the UK. Haemodynamic‐guided HF management was safe and significantly reduced hospitalization in a group of high‐risk patients. These results support implementation of this innovative remote management strategy to improve outcome for patients with symptomatic HF.

Clinical registration number: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02954341.

CardioMEMS™: a tool for remote hemodynamic monitoring of chronic heart failure patients

Remote monitoring is becoming increasingly important for management of chronic heart failure patients. Recently, hemodynamic monitoring by measuring intracardiac filling pressures has been gaining attention. It is believed that hemodynamic congestion precedes clinical congestion by several weeks and that remote hemodynamic monitoring therefore enables clinicians to intervene in an early stage and prevent heart failure hospitalizations. The CardioMEMS HF system (Abbott, CA, USA) is a sensor capable of measuring pulmonary artery pressures as a surrogate of left ventricular filling pressures. Clinical evidence for CardioMEMS has been convincing in terms of efficacy and safety. This article provides detailed information on the CardioMEMS HF system and summarizes all available evidence of this promising technique.

Patient monitoring across the spectrum of heart failure disease management 10 years after the CHAMPION trial

Despite significant advances in drug‐based and device‐based therapies, heart failure remains a major and growing public health problem associated with substantial disability, frequent hospitalizations, and high economic costs. Keeping patients well and out of the hospital has become a major focus of heart failure disease management. Achieving and maintaining such stability in heart failure patients requires a holistic approach, which includes at least the management of the underlying heart disease, the management of comorbidities and the social and psychological aspects of the disease, and the management of haemodynamic/fluid status. In this regard, accurate assessment of elevated ventricular filling pressures or volume overload, that is, haemodynamic or pulmonary congestion, respectively, before the onset of worsening heart failure symptoms represents an important management strategy. Unfortunately, conventional methods for assessing congestion, such as physical examination and monitoring of symptoms and daily weights, are insensitive markers of worsening heart failure. Assessment tools that directly measure congestion, accurately and in absolute terms, provide more actionable information that enables the application of treatment algorithms designed to restore patient stability, in a variety of clinical settings. Two such assessment tools, implantable haemodynamic monitors and remote dielectric sensing (ReDS), meet the prerequisites for useful heart failure management tools, by providing accurate, absolute, and actionable measures of congestion, to guide patient management. This review focuses on the use of such technologies, across the spectrum of heart failure treatment settings. Clinical data are presented that support the broad use of pulmonary artery pressure‐guided and/or ReDS‐guided heart failure management in heart failure patients with reduced and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction based on aging and comorbidities

Heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a leading cause of hospitalizations and mortality when diagnosed at the age of ≥ 65 years. HFpEF represents multifactorial and multisystemic syndrome and has different pathophysiology and phenotypes. Its diagnosis is difficult to be established based on left ventricular ejection fraction and may benefit from individually tailored approaches, underlying age-related changes and frequent comorbidities. Compared with the rapid development in the treatment of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, HFpEF presents a great challenge and needs to be addressed considering the failure of HF drugs to improve its outcomes. Further extensive studies on the relationships between HFpEF, aging, and comorbidities in carefully phenotyped HFpEF subgroups may help understand the biology, diagnosis, and treatment of HFpEF. The current review summarized the diagnostic and therapeutic development of HFpEF based on the complex relationships between aging, comorbidities, and HFpEF.

Pulmonary Artery Proportional Pulse Pressure (PAPP) Index Identifies Patients With Improved Survival From the CardioMEMS Implantable Pulmonary Artery Pressure Monitor

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary artery proportional pulse pressure (PAPP) was recently shown to have prognostic value in heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and pulmonary hypertension. We tested the hypothesis that PAPP would be predictive of adverse outcomes in patients with implantable pulmonary artery pressure monitor (CardioMEMS™ HF System, St. Jude Medical [now Abbott], Atlanta, GA, USA).

METHODS

Survival analysis with Cox proportional hazards regression was used to evaluate all-cause deaths and HF hospitalisation (HFH) in CHAMPION trial¹ patients who received treatment with the CardioMEMS device based on the PAPP.

RESULTS

Among 550 randomised patients, 274 had PAPP ≤ the median value of 0.583 while 276 had PAPP>0.583. Patients with PAPP≤0.583 (versus PAPP>0.583) had an increased risk of HFH (HR 1.40, 95% CI 1.16-1.68, p=0.0004) and experienced a significant 46% reduction in annualised risk of death with CardioMEMS treatment (HR 0.54, 95% CI 0.31-0.92) during 2-3 years of follow-up. This survival benefit was attributable to the treatment benefit in patients with HFrEF and PAPP≤0.583 (HR 0.50, 95% CI 0.28-0.90, p<0.05). Patients with PAPP>0.583 or HF with preserved EF (HFpEF) had no significant survival benefit with treatment (p>0.05).

CONCLUSION

Lower PAPP in HFrEF patients with CardioMEMS constitutes a higher mortality risk status. More studies are needed to understand clinical applications of PAPP in implantable pulmonary artery pressure monitors.

Systematic Review on Human Skin-Compatible Wearable Photoplethysmography Sensors

The rapid advances in human-friendly and wearable photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors have facilitated the continuous and real-time monitoring of physiological conditions, enabling self-health care without being restricted by location. In this paper, we focus on state-of-the-art skin-compatible PPG sensors and strategies to obtain accurate and stable sensing of biological signals adhered to human skin along with light-absorbing semiconducting materials that are classified as silicone, inorganic, and organic absorbers. The challenges of skin-compatible PPG-based monitoring technologies and their further improvements are also discussed. We expect that such technological developments will accelerate accurate diagnostic evaluation with the aid of the biomedical electronic devices.

Remote Hemodynamic-Guided Therapy of Patients With Recurrent Heart Failure Following Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy

Background Patients with recurring heart failure (HF) following cardiac resynchronization therapy fare poorly. Their management is undecided. We tested remote hemodynamic-guided pharmacotherapy. Methods and Results We evaluated cardiac resynchronization therapy subjects included in the CHAMPION (CardioMEMS Heart Sensor Allows Monitoring of Pressure to Improve Outcomes in New York Heart Association Class III Heart Failure Patients) trial, which randomized patients with persistent New York Heart Association Class III symptoms and ≥1 HF hospitalization in the previous 12 months to remotely managed pulmonary artery (PA) pressure-guided management (treatment) or usual HF care (control). Diuretics and/or vasodilators were adjusted conventionally in control and included remote PA pressure information in treatment. Annualized HF hospitalization rates, changes in PA pressures over time (analyzed by area under the curve), changes in medications, and quality of life (Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire scores) were assessed. Patients who had cardiac resynchronization therapy (n=190, median implant duration 755 days) at enrollment had poor hemodynamic function (cardiac index 2.00±0.59 L/min per m2), high comorbidity burden (67% had secondary pulmonary hypertension, 61% had estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min per 1.73 m2), and poor Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire scores (57±24). During 18 months randomized follow-up, HF hospitalizations were 30% lower in treatment (n=91, 62 events, 0.46 events/patient-year) versus control patients (n=99, 93 events, 0.68 events/patient-year) (hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.51-0.96; P=0.028). Treatment patients had more medication up-/down-titrations (847 versus 346 in control, P<0.001), mean PA pressure reduction (area under the curve -413.2±123.5 versus 60.1±88.0 in control, P=0.002), and quality of life improvement (Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire decreased -13.5±23 versus -4.9±24.8 in control, P=0.006). Conclusions Remote hemodynamic-guided adjustment of medical therapies decreased PA pressures and the burden of HF symptoms and hospitalizations in patients with recurring Class III HF and hospitalizations, beyond the effect of cardiac resynchronization therapy. Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT00531661.

A current and future outlook on upcoming technologies in remote monitoring of patients with heart failure

Heart failure is a major health and economic challenge in both developing and developed countries. Despite advances in pharmacological and device therapies for patients with a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and heart failure, their quality of life and exercise capacity are often persistently impaired, morbidity and mortality remain high and the health economic and societal costs are considerable. For patients with heart failure and preserved LVEF, diuretic management has an essential role for controlling congestion and symptoms, even if no intervention has convincingly shown to reduce morbidity or mortality. Remote monitoring might improve care delivery and clinical outcomes for patients regardless of LVEF. A great variety of innovative remote monitoring technologies and algorithms are being introduced, including patient self-managed testing, wearable devices, technologies either integrated into established clinically indicated therapeutic devices, such as pacemakers and defibrillators, or as stand-alone are in development providing the promise of further improvements in service delivery and clinical outcomes. In this article, we will discuss unmet needs in the management of patients with heart failure, how remote monitoring might contribute to future solutions, and provide an overview of current and novel remote monitoring technologies.

Therapeutic approaches in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: past, present, and future

In contrast to the wealth of proven therapies for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), therapeutic efforts in the past have failed to improve outcomes in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Moreover, to this day, diagnosis of HFpEF remains controversial. However, there is growing appreciation that HFpEF represents a heterogeneous syndrome with various phenotypes and comorbidities which are hardly to differentiate solely by LVEF and might benefit from individually tailored approaches. These hypotheses are supported by the recently presented PARAGON-HF trial. Although treatment with LCZ696 did not result in a significantly lower rate of total hospitalizations for heart failure and death from cardiovascular causes among HFpEF patients, subanalyses suggest beneficial effects in female patients and those with an LVEF between 45 and 57%. In the future, prospective randomized trials should focus on dedicated, well-defined subgroups based on various information such as clinical characteristics, biomarker levels, and imaging modalities. These could clarify the role of LCZ696 in selected individuals. Furthermore, sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors have just proven efficient in HFrEF patients and are currently also studied in large prospective clinical trials enrolling HFpEF patients. In addition, several novel disease-modifying drugs that pursue different strategies such as targeting cardiac inflammation and fibrosis have delivered preliminary optimistic results and are subject of further research. Moreover, innovative device therapies may enhance management of HFpEF, but need prospective adequately powered clinical trials to confirm safety and efficacy regarding clinical outcomes. This review highlights the past, present, and future therapeutic approaches in HFpEF.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Cardiovascular Diseases: An Unexpected Alliance

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), despite the significant advances in the diagnosis and treatments, still represents the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In order to improve and optimize CVD outcomes, artificial intelligence techniques have the potential to radically change the way we practice cardiology, especially in imaging, offering us novel tools to interpret data and make clinical decisions. AI techniques such as machine learning and deep learning can also improve medical knowledge due to the increase of the volume and complexity of the data, unlocking clinically relevant information. Likewise, the use of emerging communication and information technologies is becoming pivotal to create a pervasive healthcare service through which elderly and chronic disease patients can receive medical care at their home, reducing hospitalizations and improving quality of life. The aim of this review is to describe the contemporary state of artificial intelligence and digital health applied to cardiovascular medicine as well as to provide physicians with their potential not only in cardiac imaging but most of all in clinical practice.

Rationale and design of the CardioMEMS Post-Market Multinational Clinical Study: COAST

AIMS

Chronic heart failure reduces quality and quantity of life and is expensive for healthcare systems. Medical treatment relies on guideline-directed therapy, but clinical follow-up and remote management is highly variable and poorly effective. New remote management strategies are needed to maintain clinical stability and avoid hospitalizations for acute decompensation.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The CardioMEMS Post-Market Study is a prospective, international, single-arm, multicentre, open-label study (NCT02954341) designed to examine the feasibility of haemodynamic guided heart failure management using a small pressure sensor permanently implanted in the pulmonary artery (PA). Daily uploaded PA pressures will be reviewed weekly to remotely guide medical management of patients with persistent NYHA Class III symptoms at baseline and a hospitalization in the prior 12 months. The study will enrol up to 800 patients from 85 sites across the United Kingdom, Europe, and Australia. The primary safety endpoint will assess device or system-related complications or sensor failures after 2 years of follow-up. Efficacy will be estimated after 1 year of follow-up comparing HF hospitalization rates before and after sensor implantation. Observational endpoints will include mortality, patient, and investigator monitoring compliance, PA pressure changes, quality of life, and several pre-defined subgroup analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

The CardioMEMS Post-Market Study will investigate the generalizability of remote haemodynamic guided HF management in a number of national settings. The results may support the more widespread implementation of this novel clinical management approach.

Pulmonary Hypertension Due to Left Heart Disease

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) due to left heart disease (LHD) is the most common type of PH and is defined as mean pulmonary artery systolic pressure of >20 mm Hg and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure >15 mm Hg during right heart catheterization. LHD may lead to elevated left atrial pressure alone, which in the absence of intrinsic pulmonary vascular disease will result in PH without changes in pulmonary vascular resistance. Persistent elevation in left atrial pressure may, however, also be associated with subsequent pulmonary vascular remodeling, vasoconstriction, and an increase in pulmonary vascular resistance. Hence, there are 2 subgroups of PH due to LHD, isolated postcapillary PH and combined post- and precapillary PH, with these groups have differing clinical implications. Differentiation of pulmonary arterial hypertension and PH due to LHD is critical to guide management planning; however, this may be challenging. Older patients, patients with metabolic syndrome, and patients with imaging and clinical features consistent with left ventricular dysfunction are suggestive of LHD etiology rather than pulmonary arterial hypertension. Hemodynamic measures such as diastolic pressure gradient, transpulmonary gradient, and pulmonary vascular resistance may assist to differentiate pre- from postcapillary PH and offer prognostic insights. However, these are influenced by fluid status and heart failure treatment. Pulmonary arterial hypertension therapies have been trialed in the treatment with concerning results reflecting disease heterogeneity, variation in inclusion criteria, and mixed end point criteria. The aim of this review is to provide an updated definition, discuss possible pathophysiology, clinical aspects, and the available treatment options for PH due to LHD.

Wedged Sensor in Distress? Lessons Learned from Troubleshooting Dampened Transmitted PA Waveforms of CardioMEMS Device

Introduction. Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality with heart failure constituting a large portion of this spectrum. Heart failure patients have 90-day readmission rates of nearly 41% associated with a high expense. Numerous strategies to reduce readmissions have been attempted with the CardioMEMS pulmonary artery pressure monitoring system as one of the more successful ones. As this device becomes used more frequently, it is important to recognize procedural complications. We present of a rare complication where a patient underwent successful device placement and was subsequently found to have dampened waveforms which were due to device migration. Case Report. A 79-year-old male underwent successful CardioMEMS placement due to recurrent heart failure hospitalizations. 6 months later, the transmitted waveforms appeared dampened, and repeat angiography revealed a device that had migrated. Rather than abandoning the device, it was recalibrated and continued to transmit data and helped manage the patient's heart failure. Conclusion. CardioMEMS is a cost-effective tool to help reduce heart failure hospitalizations. Device migration is a rare complication and can lead to inaccurate data. However, as seen in this case, the device can be successfully recalibrated and can continue to be utilized to help reduce heart failure admissions.

The Cardiorenal Syndrome in Heart Failure

Abnormal fluid handling leads to physiologic abnormalities in multiple organ systems. Deranged hemodynamics, neurohormonal activation, excessive tubular sodium reabsorption, inflammation, oxidative stress, and nephrotoxic medications are important drivers of harmful cardiorenal interactions in patients with heart failure. Accurate quantitative measurement of fluid volume is vital to individualizing therapy for such patients. Blood volume analysis and pulmonary artery pressure monitoring seem the most reliable methods for assessing fluid volume and guiding decongestive therapies. Still the cornerstone of decongestive therapy, diuretics' effectiveness decreases with progression of heart failure. Extracorporeal ultrafiltration, an alternative to diuretics, has been shown to reduce heart-failure events.

Remote monitoring of chronic heart failure patients: invasive versus non-invasive tools for optimising patient management

Exacerbations of chronic heart failure (HF) with the necessity for hospitalisation impact hospital resources significantly. Despite all of the achievements in medical management and non-pharmacological therapy that improve the outcome in HF, new strategies are needed to prevent HF-related hospitalisations by keeping stable HF patients out of the hospital and focusing resources on unstable HF patients. Remote monitoring of these patients could provide the physicians with an additional tool to intervene adequately and promptly. Results of telemonitoring to date are inconsistent, especially those of telemonitoring with traditional non-haemodynamic parameters. Recently, the CardioMEMS device (Abbott Inc., Atlanta, GA, USA), an implantable haemodynamic remote monitoring sensor, has shown promising results in preventing HF-related hospitalisations in chronic HF patients hospitalised in the previous year and in New York Heart Association functional class III in the United States. This review provides an overview of the available evidence on remote monitoring in chronic HF patients and future perspectives for the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of these strategies.

Observational Study of Noninvasive Venous Waveform Analysis to Assess Intracardiac Filling Pressures During Right Heart Catheterization

BACKGROUND

Outpatient monitoring and management of patients with heart failure (HF) reduces hospitalizations and health care costs. However, the availability of noninvasive approaches to assess congestion is limited. Noninvasive venous waveform analysis (NIVA) uses a unique physiologic signal, the morphology of the venous waveform, to assess intracardiac filling pressures. This study is a proof of concept analysis of the correlation between NIVA value and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) and the ability of the NIVA value to predict PCWP > 18 mmHg in subjects undergoing elective right heart catheterization (RHC). PCWP was also compared across common clinical correlates of congestion.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A prototype NIVA device, which consists of a piezoelectric sensor placed over the skin on the volar aspect of the wrist, connected to a data-capture control box, was used to collect venous waveforms in 96 patients during RHC. PCWP was collected at end-expiration by an experienced cardiologist. The venous waveform signal was transformed to the frequency domain (Fourier transform), where a ratiometric algorithm of the frequencies of the pulse rate and its harmonics was used to derive a NIVA value. NIVA values were successfully captured in 83 of 96 enrolled patients. PCWP ranged from 4-40 mmHg with a median of 13 mmHg. NIVA values demonstrated a linear correlation with PCWP (r = 0.69, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This observational proof-of-concept study using a prototype NIVA device demonstrates a moderate correlation between NIVA value and PCWP in patients undergoing RHC. NIVA, thus, represents a promising developing technology for noninvasive assessment of congestion in spontaneously breathing patients.