Feasibility and effectiveness of telemedicine for adult patients with congenital heart disease: A one-year single-center experience-based studySummary table

Introduction: The number of adults with congenital heart disease has significantly increased in recent years. While telemedicine has emerged as a promising approach to improve care delivery and patient outcomes, its use for adults with congenital cardiopathies has not been extensively explored. This...

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Main Authors: Nunzia Borrelli, Nicola Grimaldi, Flavia Fusco, Antonio Orlando, Michela Palma, Maria Cristina Boccia, Sabrina Bassolino, Anna Iervolino, Berardo Sarubbi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:International Journal of Cardiology Congenital Heart Disease
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666668525000187
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author Nunzia Borrelli
Nicola Grimaldi
Flavia Fusco
Antonio Orlando
Michela Palma
Maria Cristina Boccia
Sabrina Bassolino
Anna Iervolino
Berardo Sarubbi
author_facet Nunzia Borrelli
Nicola Grimaldi
Flavia Fusco
Antonio Orlando
Michela Palma
Maria Cristina Boccia
Sabrina Bassolino
Anna Iervolino
Berardo Sarubbi
author_sort Nunzia Borrelli
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: The number of adults with congenital heart disease has significantly increased in recent years. While telemedicine has emerged as a promising approach to improve care delivery and patient outcomes, its use for adults with congenital cardiopathies has not been extensively explored. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and clinical impact of a telemedicine programme for adults with congenital heart diseases. Methods: This was a single-center, prospective, observational study, carried out between January 2022 and January 2023. A wristwatch, a paired mobile device, and a dedicated hospital workstation were used to telemonitor 25 adult patients with moderate-to-severe congenital heart condition, in II-IV New-York Heart Association class. We assessed changes in hospital admission days and related costs, patient satisfaction, and functional parameters, including 6-min walk test distance, vital signs, and echocardiographic ejection fraction. Results: All 25 patients agreed to participate to the telemedicine program (mean age 38.35 ± 11.33 years, 52 % male). Twenty-three patients completed the program. No significant changes were observed in vital signs, functional class, ventricular ejection fraction, while walking distance significantly improved (404 ± 82 m versus 433 ± 142 m, p = 0.03). Notably, hospital admission days and related costs were significantly reduced during the TM program year compared to the prior year. Patient satisfaction was high. One patient experienced a prolonged hospitalization and death due to the natural progression of their condition. Conclusion: High-risk patients with moderate-severe congenital heart disease can benefit from a device-implemented telemedicine program, which offers tailored, specialized care directly at home, reducing hospital admissions and ensuring stable clinical status.
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series International Journal of Cardiology Congenital Heart Disease
spelling doaj-art-1d281cb667ec4346a982ac03e34ec9662025-08-20T02:58:30ZengElsevierInternational Journal of Cardiology Congenital Heart Disease2666-66852025-06-012010058210.1016/j.ijcchd.2025.100582Feasibility and effectiveness of telemedicine for adult patients with congenital heart disease: A one-year single-center experience-based studySummary tableNunzia Borrelli0Nicola Grimaldi1Flavia Fusco2Antonio Orlando3Michela Palma4Maria Cristina Boccia5Sabrina Bassolino6Anna Iervolino7Berardo Sarubbi8Adult Congenital Heart Disease and Congenital and Familial Arrhythmias Unit, Monaldi Hospital, Naples, ItalyAdult Congenital Heart Disease and Congenital and Familial Arrhythmias Unit, Monaldi Hospital, Naples, ItalyAdult Congenital Heart Disease and Congenital and Familial Arrhythmias Unit, Monaldi Hospital, Naples, ItalyAdult Congenital Heart Disease and Congenital and Familial Arrhythmias Unit, Monaldi Hospital, Naples, ItalyAdult Congenital Heart Disease and Congenital and Familial Arrhythmias Unit, Monaldi Hospital, Naples, ItalyMedical Direction Unit, Monaldi Hospital, Naples, ItalyStrategic Organization and Evaluation Unit, AORN dei Colli, Naples, ItalyChief Executive Officer, AORN dei Colli, Naples, ItalyAdult Congenital Heart Disease and Congenital and Familial Arrhythmias Unit, Monaldi Hospital, Naples, Italy; Corresponding author. Monaldi Hospital, Via Leonardo Bianchi, 80131, Napoli, Italy.Introduction: The number of adults with congenital heart disease has significantly increased in recent years. While telemedicine has emerged as a promising approach to improve care delivery and patient outcomes, its use for adults with congenital cardiopathies has not been extensively explored. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and clinical impact of a telemedicine programme for adults with congenital heart diseases. Methods: This was a single-center, prospective, observational study, carried out between January 2022 and January 2023. A wristwatch, a paired mobile device, and a dedicated hospital workstation were used to telemonitor 25 adult patients with moderate-to-severe congenital heart condition, in II-IV New-York Heart Association class. We assessed changes in hospital admission days and related costs, patient satisfaction, and functional parameters, including 6-min walk test distance, vital signs, and echocardiographic ejection fraction. Results: All 25 patients agreed to participate to the telemedicine program (mean age 38.35 ± 11.33 years, 52 % male). Twenty-three patients completed the program. No significant changes were observed in vital signs, functional class, ventricular ejection fraction, while walking distance significantly improved (404 ± 82 m versus 433 ± 142 m, p = 0.03). Notably, hospital admission days and related costs were significantly reduced during the TM program year compared to the prior year. Patient satisfaction was high. One patient experienced a prolonged hospitalization and death due to the natural progression of their condition. Conclusion: High-risk patients with moderate-severe congenital heart disease can benefit from a device-implemented telemedicine program, which offers tailored, specialized care directly at home, reducing hospital admissions and ensuring stable clinical status.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666668525000187TelemedicineCongenital heart diseaseHearth failureSudden death
spellingShingle Nunzia Borrelli
Nicola Grimaldi
Flavia Fusco
Antonio Orlando
Michela Palma
Maria Cristina Boccia
Sabrina Bassolino
Anna Iervolino
Berardo Sarubbi
Feasibility and effectiveness of telemedicine for adult patients with congenital heart disease: A one-year single-center experience-based studySummary table
International Journal of Cardiology Congenital Heart Disease
Telemedicine
Congenital heart disease
Hearth failure
Sudden death
title Feasibility and effectiveness of telemedicine for adult patients with congenital heart disease: A one-year single-center experience-based studySummary table
title_full Feasibility and effectiveness of telemedicine for adult patients with congenital heart disease: A one-year single-center experience-based studySummary table
title_fullStr Feasibility and effectiveness of telemedicine for adult patients with congenital heart disease: A one-year single-center experience-based studySummary table
title_full_unstemmed Feasibility and effectiveness of telemedicine for adult patients with congenital heart disease: A one-year single-center experience-based studySummary table
title_short Feasibility and effectiveness of telemedicine for adult patients with congenital heart disease: A one-year single-center experience-based studySummary table
title_sort feasibility and effectiveness of telemedicine for adult patients with congenital heart disease a one year single center experience based studysummary table
topic Telemedicine
Congenital heart disease
Hearth failure
Sudden death
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666668525000187
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