[Telemedicine in pacemaker therapy and follow-up].

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Digital Health

Context:

• Cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) are increasingly managed remotely.
• Current telemedicine systems offer broad patient and device data ('remote control').
• Existing remote systems (e.g., Home Monitoring, CareLink) interrogate devices and transmit data to physicians via secure websites.

Purpose:

• To review current remote systems for CIEDs and their application in patient follow-up.
• To highlight the potential of telemedicine in managing pacemaker patients.
• To identify knowledge gaps and future research directions in CIED remote care.

Summary:

• Remote monitoring continuously interrogates CIEDs for adverse events, enabling earlier detection than standard visits.
• Remote follow-up utilizes device interrogation to potentially replace in-person appointments.
• Automatic wireless interrogation is preferred but requires specific device hardware, often found in newer models.

Impact:

• Limited data exists on remote control specifically for pacemaker patients, with most studies focusing on ICD and CRT patients.
• Atrial fibrillation is a common clinical event in pacemaker patients, but its impact on routine remote follow-up requires further evaluation.
• Large-scale trials are underway to demonstrate the benefits of telemedicine and remote monitoring in pacemaker patient management.