Rethinking heart failure care and health technologies from early COVID-19 experiences - A narrative review

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Health Services Research
• Digital Health

Background:

• Heart Failure (HF) management necessitates multidisciplinary care, but the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted traditional healthcare models.
• Existing evidence-based guidelines for HF treatment face challenges in translation to real-world practice, especially for vulnerable patient groups.
• Service improvement studies have bridged some gaps, yet disparities persist for severe HF, comorbidities, and remote populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in health technology aimed at addressing service gaps in heart failure care.
• To examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Australian heart failure management outside conventional care models.
• To explore how health technology can mitigate challenges in chronic disease management.

Main Methods:

• This narrative review synthesizes information on health technology's role in heart failure management.
• It examines observations from the Australian healthcare system during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The review focuses on recent developments and their potential to improve service delivery.

Main Results:

• The pandemic accelerated the adoption of non-traditional care models for heart failure.
• Health technology has emerged as a key enabler for overcoming service delivery gaps.
• Specific technologies show promise in enhancing management for underserved HF populations.

Conclusions:

• Health technology presents a significant opportunity to enhance heart failure care delivery, particularly for vulnerable groups.
• The post-pandemic era requires innovative solutions to ensure equitable access to optimal heart failure management.
• Continued evaluation of health technology is crucial for refining service models and improving patient outcomes.