A Patient-Centered Intervention Reduces Disparities in Remote Monitoring in Patients With Implanted Cardiac Devices

Remote monitoring (RM) is recommended for patients with cardiovascular implantable electronic devices, yet many individuals, especially those living in underserved communities, fail to receive this guideline-directed care. Multilevel interventions that target patient and clinic-level barriers to RM care may be beneficial.

This study sought to evaluate a remotely delivered, patient-centered intervention to improve RM activation and adherence and reduce disparities in RM care.

The intervention provides home delivery of remote monitor, phone-based education, monitor setup, and facilitation of first transmission. A retrospective cohort analysis was performed using RM data from 190,643 patients (71.6 ± 12.7 years of age, 40.5% female) implanted with a pacemaker or defibrillator at 4,195 U.S. clinics between October 2015 and October 2019. Outcomes included RM activation (12 weeks and 1-year postimplantation) and adherence to clinic-scheduled transmissions. Patients receiving a cardiovascular implantable electronic deviceimplant 0 to 730 days before (control group, n = 95,861) and after (intervention group, n = 94,782) intervention launch were compared using logistic regression and generalized estimating equations. Multivariable models included patient, clinic, and neighborhood socioeconomic characteristics.

The odds of achieving guideline-recommended activation were significantly higher in the intervention group at 12 weeks (OR: 2.99; 76.7% vs 60.9%; P < 0.001) and 1 year (OR: 3.05; 88.2% vs 79.3%; P < 0.001). Adherence to scheduled transmissions was also higher in the intervention group compared with the control group (OR: 2.18; 89.1% vs 81.9%; P < 0.001). Preintervention disparities in RM activation and adherence were reduced in underserved groups following the intervention.

A remotely delivered patient-centered intervention was associated with earlier activation and improved adherence to RM while reducing disparities in RM care.