Advantages of mobile health in the management of adult patients with congenital heart disease

BACKGROUND Adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) often suffer from deterioration related to cardiac arrhythmias, hypertension (HT) or heart failure (HF), frequently occurring between planned visits. Mobile health (mHealth) could improve management through remote monitoring by enabling swift therapeutic response and detecting new diagnoses. METHODS We performed a prospective study employing mHealth in ACHD patients, weekly monitoring heart rhythm, weight and blood pressure. In case of consecutive threshold exceeding measurements or in case of new diagnosis, patients were contacted and if needed the treating physician was consulted. Inclusion criteria were: palpitations within the last three years (with or without arrhythmia diagnosis) or HF NYHA class ≥ II. We evaluated the detection of recurrences and new diagnosis of arrhythmias, HT and HF, adherence and patient experience (Net Promotor Score (NPS)). RESULTS In total, 109 of the 268 invited ACHD patients were enrolled, 80 with palpitations, 13 with HF, 16 experienced both, mean age 45 (±13) years, 33% male. Median follow-up was 12 (Q1-Q3;9-14) months, 91 patients initiated all measurements (heart rhythm, weight and blood pressure). In 25% of the patients with diagnosed arrhythmias (14/56) recurrences of arrhythmias were detected; 13% of the patients with undiagnosed palpitations (4/32) were diagnosed with novel arrhythmias. In 38% of the patients with HT at baseline (6/16), treatment adjustment was necessary, 4% of the patients without HT (4/76) received novel HT diagnosis. Diuretics were adjusted in 7% of the patients with HF (2/29). Adherence was > 70% in 77% of the patients that started weekly measurements (70/91). Patients that were female, older of age and experienced palpitations at inclusion were more likely to acquire an adherence of > 70%. NPS was completed by 68 patients, 57 patients (84%) were promotors or neutral, and 11 patients (16%) were critics. CONCLUSIONS mHealth offers advantages in the management of selected ACHD patients; it enabled early detection of recurrences and new diagnosis of arrhythmias, hypertension and heart failure, which lead to swift therapeutic response or remote reassurance. Furthermore, mHealth was well accepted with high adherence and positive patient experience.