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- Title
The TeleGuard trial of additional telemedicine care in CAD patients. 1 Utilization of the system.
- Authors
Katalinic, Alexander; Waldmann, Annika; Schwaab, Bernhard; Richardt, Gert; Sheikhzadeh, Abdolhamid; Raspe, Heiner
- Abstract
Patients with established coronary artery disease (CAD) were recruited in 11 hospitals and randomized to an intervention (telemedicine system; n = 752) or a control group (usual medical care; n = 748). On the day before discharge, patients in the intervention group were equipped with a 12-lead event recorder and trained to use the device. Whenever they had symptoms, they could contact the call centre, transmit an ECG (without redialling) and consult a physician. During a 12-month study, 171 patients (23%) in the intervention group contacted the call centre, a total of 269 times. The main reasons for calling were chest pain and radiating pain. Pathological changes were seen in 24% of the transmitted ECGs. Only 23% of the calls were made in the first hour after onset of symptoms and a further 12% in the subsequent hour, suggesting that patients should be encouraged to use ECG transmission at an earlier stage. At follow-up, 157 patients (21%) had had at least one recurrent cardiac event (myocardial infarction, cardiac hospital stay, re-vascularization). The proportion was significantly higher in telemedicine users (35%) than in non-users (17%), P < 0.001. Regardless of utilization, the majority of the intervention patients considered that the telemedicine system was helpful (users = 93%, non-users = 89%; P = 0.095).
- Publication
Journal of telemedicine and telecare, 2008, Vol 14, Issue 1, p17
- ISSN
1357-633X
- Publication type
Journal Article
- DOI
10.1258/jtt.2007.070511