The CAtalan Remote Management Evaluation (CARME) study has shown that patients with heart failure who used an interactive telehealth system with motivational support tools at home spent 73 % fewer days in hospital. The findings of the study were presented during the 'Heart Failure Congress 2010' held in Berlin on 29 May - 01 June 2010.

The results of the CARME study, which was managed by the Spanish Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol Heart Failure Clinic over a 12 month period, are the first to demonstrate how the impact of a telehealth system combining patient monitoring and motivational educational support tools can benefit patients who suffer from chronic diseases.

The study randomly assigned 92 patients to two groups; the patients of the first group received care plan driven educational videos, motivational messages and questionnaires, whereas the second group received the same information but also monitored their blood pressure, weight and pulse.

A telehealth system was used to connect patients with their providers via their television and broadband connection. The study then compared the clinical outcomes 12 months prior to enrolment with the results obtained during the study. It finally revealed:

• a 68% decrease in heart failure related to hospitalisation;
• a 73% reduction of days spent in hospital, i.e. from 646 to 168 days;
• a significant improvement in patients perception of quality of life;
• more than half of the patients (56%) said that their quality of life was medium or low, which decreased to 22% by the end;
• more than three quarters of patients said that they wanted to keep the telehealth system in addition to their regular care.

Dr Josep Lupon, head of the heart failure unit and main researcher of the study, said: "The concept of providing educational support to heart failure patients via their television has significantly contributed to empowering them."

"Equally important, the CARME study has shown that disseminating patient and disease specific information via the TV (...), helps family members to gain a better understanding of how to effectively support their loved ones in coping with their disease. This appears to have a very strong impact on outcomes."

 Further information:

• Original news article - eHealth Europe
• Heart Failure Congress 2010