Remote monitoring in heart failure patients
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN96536028 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN96536028 |
| Protocol serial number | UKCRN10383 |
| Sponsor | University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust |
| Funders | British Heart Foundation, Boston Scientific Corporation, Medtronic, St. Jude Medical |
- Submission date
- 23/06/2016
- Registration date
- 27/06/2016
- Last edited
- 05/06/2017
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Circulatory System
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a long-term condition where the heart has become weakened and isn’t able to pump blood around the body effectively. It is very common, meaning that related hospital admissions and healthcare costs continue to rise. With the ageing population and improving treatment of coronary artery disease (blockage of the main heart arteries), the incidence of heart failure will continue to increase rapidly. Many patients with heart failure now have implantable devices to help manage their condition. The purpose of this study is to help to understand how to better use the information from these devices, in order to prevent death or admission to hospital, and to improve health-related quality of life. Until recently all patients who have a pacemaker (a device which uses electrical pulses to maintain a normal heart rhythm) or defibrillator (a device which shocks the heart into a normal rhythm) fitted have been required to attend routine clinic appointments in hospital to have their device readings checked. Because of advances in technology, some devices now allow physicians to retrieve that information without the need for patients to attend device clinics. Patients with these devices can now transmit their device data from the comfort of their own home. This is done with a small monitor that is used to send device data over a telephone line to a secure server. Clinical staff then access and review the device data remotely. The aim of this study is to see how best hospital study teams can manage patients care using these advances in technology.
Who can participate?
Adults with heart failure who have had an implantable device for at least six months that is suitable for remote monitoring.
What does the study involve?
Patients with devices are randomly allocated to one of two groups. Those in the first group are monitored using remote management technology for heart failure assessment using specific care guidelines. This involves being invited to have their device checked weekly from home over the internet. Those in the second group follow their local hospital routine standard of care which may involve some remote follow up and/or attending hospital device clinics (generally every three to six months). Participants in both groups are contacted by telephone after three, six and twelve months and then yearly until the end of the study (minimum of two years) to ask about their progress. All participants also complete a number of questionnaires to return by post at these times to assess their quality of life.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There are no known benefits or risks involved with participating in this study.
Where is the study run from?
Southampton General Hospital (lead centre) and eight other NHS hospitals in England (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
September 2011 to January 2016
Who is funding the study?
1. British Heart Foundation (UK)
2. Boston Scientific Ltd (UK)
3. Medtronic Ltd (UK)
4. St Jude Medical Ltd (UK)
Who is the main contact?
1. Mrs Sue Kitt (public)
sue.kitt@uhs.nhs.uk
2. Professor Martin Cowie (scientific)
m.cowie@imperial.ac.uk
Contact information
Public
University Hospitals Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
Southampton
SO16 6YD
United Kingdom
 ORCID ID |
0000-0001-6051-4810 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +44 (0)23 8120 4633 |
| sue.kitt@uhs.nhs.uk |
Scientific
Royal Brompton Hospital
Sydney Street
London
SW3 6NP
United Kingdom
| ORCID ID |
0000-0001-7457-2552 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +44 (0)207 351 8856 |
| m.cowie@imperial.ac.uk |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Multicentre randomised non-blinded interventional controlled trial |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | REmote Monitoring and evaluation of implantable devices for management of Heart Failure patients |
| Study acronym | REM-HF |
| Study objectives | The aim of this study is to assess whether patient-independent remote monitoring using implanted device technology and deployed in clinical pathways designed for chronic management of heart failure in the home will significantly reduce all-cause patient mortality and cardiovascular hospitalisation in the context of NHS care and will be more cost effective than usual care. |
| Ethics approval(s) | NRES Committee Yorkshire and The Humber- Sheffield, 17/05/2011, ref: 11/YH/0062 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Heart failure |
| Intervention | Participants are randomised to one of two groups. Group 1: Participants will be set up with remote device monitoring and arrangements made for a weekly device download to be transmitted to their local study hospital. Some participants may already use remote monitoring but this will be on a much less frequent basis, usually 3 to 6 monthly. The weekly downloads will be reviewed by the nurse or cardiac technician who are the “trained study remote monitor”. The monitor will review the weekly downloads and take any appropriate actions which are then documented as part of the study data. Group 2: Participants will have their device care managed according to the usual care in their local hospital. Both groups will be contacted by telephone at 3, 6, 12 month and yearly following enrolment to ask about their progress. Data regarding their progress will be collected from the telephone follow up and supported by hospital and GP medical records. All participants will be required to complete “Quality of Life” (QOL) questionnaires at baseline, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months following enrolment. The latter 4 QOL questionnaires may be sent in the post. Depending on the date of their enrolment each participant will be followed up in the study for up to 4 years with a minimum of 2 years follow up. |
| Intervention type | Device |
| Phase | |
| Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s) | |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Combined all-cause mortality (ACM) or unplanned cardiovascular (CV) hospitalisation (whichever comes first) rate is determined through follow up interviews at 3, 6, 12 month, 2 years and for the early recruiters up to 4 years. Data will be collected from a combination of participant interviews, reviewing hospital and GP records and by obtaining copies of death certificates where available from the Health and Social Care Information Centre. |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
Unless otherwise stated, secondary outcome measures will be measured at the last follow-up or at the last available observation within the two year follow-up period. |
| Completion date | 31/01/2016 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 1650 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1.Participants will all have received an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD), Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy-Pacemaker (CRT-P) or Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy-Defibrillator (CRT-D) at least six months previously, for the treatment and monitoring of chronic heart failure 2.Be on stable medical therapy for CHF for 6 weeks prior to recruitment 3.Will have the ability to independently comprehend and complete Quality of Life Questionnaires 4. Will have the ability to give informed consent 5. Will be on optimal medical therapy according to the treating physician, working to NICE Guidelines 6. Will have had their device programmed to give optimal therapy according to the treating physician 7. Will have symptomatic heart failure (i.e. NYHA Class II to IV) documented at the time of study enrolment 8. Will be at least 30 days post any device change or lead replacement procedure 9. Will be at least 3 months post any cardiac surgical procedure 10. Will be at least 3 months post acute myocardial infarction |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Unable to use the technology due to mental or physical limitations 2. Less than 18 years old 3. Pregnancy 4. On a heart transplant list 5. Life expectancy of < one year (non cardiovascular related) in the opinion of the treating physician 6. Current device related complications, e.g. wound infection or haematoma, lead fracture 7. Device implanted less than 6 months previously 8. Patients unable to understand written and spoken English. |
| Date of first enrolment | 29/09/2011 |
| Date of final enrolment | 31/03/2014 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- United Kingdom
- England
Study participating centres
Tremona Road
Southampton
SO16 6YD
United Kingdom
Sydney Street
London
SW3 6NP
United Kingdom
Whinney Heys Road
Blackpool
FY3 8NR
United Kingdom
Westminster Bridge Road
London
SE1 7EH
United Kingdom
Great George Street
Leeds
LS1 3EX
United Kingdom
Groby Road
Leicester
LE3 9QP
United Kingdom
Thomas Drive
Liverpool
L14 3PE
United Kingdom
Southmoor Road
Wythenshawe
Manchester
M23 9LT
United Kingdom
Freeman Road
High Heaton
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE7 7DN
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Data sharing statement to be made available at a later date |
| IPD sharing plan |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results article | results | 07/08/2017 | Yes | No | |
| Protocol article | protocol | 01/09/2014 | Yes | No | |
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Editorial Notes
05/06/2017: Publication reference added.
