Telemonitoring in Patients With Heart Failure

Telemonitoring in Patients With Heart Failure

The purpose of this study is to investigate if telemonitoring results in a decrease in hospital admissions, with equal quality of care defined as mortality, quality of life and unplanned visits with caregivers. Telemonitoring is expected to be more cost-effective than usual care in patients with heart failure.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients > 18 years
• Patients with heart failure NYHA classification II-III-IV
• Patient experienced a period of fluid retention
• Patient is treated by a cardiologist
• Patient is followed-up by a heart failure nurse
• Adequate knowledge of the Dutch language
• Patient has an active telephone connection, preferably analogue
• Patient is mental competent
• Patient has the disposal of a balance

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients suffering from COPD, Gold classification 3 or 4
• Patient is a dialysis patient
• Patient has a visual restriction to read the dialogues on the Health Buddy
• Patient is hard of hearing or deaf
• Patient suffers from a lethal sickness with a prognosis < 1 year
• Patient participates in another trial
• Patient needs a hospital admission on short time, i.e., < 3 months
• Patient used the Health Buddy in an earlier stage
• Patient is an illiterate person.