Telemedicine in High-Risk Cardiovascular Patients Post-ACS

Remote Acute Assessment of Patients With High Cardiovascular Risk Post-Acute Coronary Syndrome

This is a non-CTIMP randomised controlled trial looking at the utilisation of telemedicine devices to provide remote, clinically necessary, diagnostic information, without the need for hospital attendance that patients will take home with them following admission to hospital with a heart attack.

Following hospital admission with a heart attack, telemedicine equipment can provide patients with remote, clinically necessary diagnostic information without the need for hospital attendance, which they can take home when they discharge from the hospital. In this project, patients known to be at high risk of ACS are equipped and empowered to seek urgent medical attention without visiting the hospital, if they experience symptoms, and to determine whether or not to seek emergency treatment, with an immediate remote specialist consultation, as assessed by validated technology.

Those enrolled in the intervention group will be offered telemedicine packages upon discharge from the hospital. Those enrolled in the active arm will have their telemedicine package provided to the trial team when they conduct an ECG and seek medical attention. In contrast, in the control group, routine clinical care will be provided, as well as follow up by phone over 9 months.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 1 ACS Patients diagnosed with elevated hs-cTnI I who have undergone coronary intervention for NSTEMI or STEMI or unstable angina.

• 2 In addition, the participant should have at least one additional cardiovascular risk factor:

  • Current or ex-Tobacco Use
  • Hypertension
  • Diabetes
  • Hypercholesterolaemia.
  • Male aged > 50 years.

• 3 Access to a smartphone or smart device.

Exclusion Criteria:

• 1 The inability to apply/use the telemonitoring equipmentt
• 2 Life expectancy of 9 months or less.