This research is funded by the North Shore Heart Research Foundation.

Title: Cardiac Rhythm Management Research Unit - remote cardiac monitoring

Investigators: Dr Edward Barin, Dr Peter Leijdekkers, Dr Valerie Gay, Professor Elaine Lawrence

Funded since 2008

Overview

This research examines the feasibility of using remote phone-based monitoring systems to assess patients with cardiac symptoms and devices such as pacemakers and implantable defibrillators. A novel smartphone-based system was developed at the Faculty of Engineering and IT at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS). This has been trialled in patients at Royal North Shore Hospital.

This unique software interface has attracted attention at international meetings overseas, and may form the basis of further trials in patients on cardiac rehabilitation programs.

The system complements the program of internet-based remote monitoring. This was pioneered at Royal North Shore in the CRM (Cardiac Rhythm Management) Research Unit for pacemakers and ICDs. Standard of care now requires pacemakers and similar devices be monitored via the internet using home-based devices.

Report

The monitoring system has been successfully trialled to date and technical improvements implemented. Patient acceptance has been positive. The reliability, accuracy and safety of the system have been confirmed. To date its use has been confined to low-risk subjects with benign arrhythmias. The potential for improving adherence to treatment programs, rehabilitation and exercise programs will also be examined.

The potential benefits for cost and hospitalisation savings will be of interest.

Presentations

Gay, Valérie, Peter Leijdekkers, and Edward Barin. ‘A mobile rehabilitation application for the remote monitoring of cardiac patients after a heart attack or coronary bypass surgery'. 2nd ACM International Conference on Pervasive Technologies Related to Assistive Environments. ISBN: 978-1-60558-409-6. Corfu, Greece, June 2009.

Leijdekkers, Peter, Valérie Gay, and Edward Barin. ‘Trial results of a novel cardiac rhythm management system using smart phones and wireless ECG sensors.' 7th International Conference on Smart Homes and Health Telematics (ICOST), pp 32-39, Springer, ISBN 978-3-642-02867-0. France, July 2009.

Leijdekkers, Peter, Valérie Gay, Elaine Lawrence, and Edward Barin, ‘A PDA-based software interface for remote vital sign monitoring - initial clinical experience.' Poster session, CardioRhythm 2009, Hong Kong, February 2009.