With her doctoral research, Cyrille Herkert, PhD candidate and cardiologist-in-training, offers new insights that can help improve care for heart failure patients using technology and telemonitoring. Dr. Herkert is hopeful for the future: "We are tracking new technologies that may make it possible to improve monitoring patients with heart failure at home in the future." Heart failure is a chronic condition in which the heart struggles to pump blood around, which has a significant impact on patients' lives.
Source: Máxima MC
Telemonitoring: remote care
An important part of the research she conducted at Máxima MC and at TU Eindhoven focused on telemonitoring, a way to remotely monitor patients with heart failure. This involves patients measuring their vital values at home, such as blood pressure, heart rate, and weight, which are then sent digitally to the hospital.
Based on this data, healthcare providers can intervene promptly, thus preventing hospitalizations. This approach gives patients more control over their health and reduces the need for frequent hospital visits.
Novel sensor technology for heart failure
In addition to investigating the effects of telemonitoring in patients with heart failure, the dissertation also examines new sensor technology that helps in the early detection of deterioration in heart failure. Commercially available wearable devices, such as smartwatches and activity trackers, are helpful for healthy people.
Herkert's study found that they measure less reliably in heart patients. This shows that improvement is still needed in the technology before it can be widely used for medical purposes such as monitoring patients at home.
One of the most promising technologies is the so-called kinocardiograph. This device uses sensors on the chest and lower back to measure heart vibrations and detect changes in heart activity.
The research shows that this technology is good at detecting changes in heart function even during mild exertion. The technology also appears to measure differences in the degree of fluid retention in heart failure patients.
This means the device could help detect heart failure deterioration early, allowing healthcare providers to intervene earlier and prevent serious complications.
What will this mean for patients?
These technological innovations may allow patients with heart failure to be better monitored at home without visiting the hospital each time. This technology can contribute to fewer readmissions and a higher quality of life for patients.
It offers healthcare providers the opportunity to treat patients more accurately and efficiently, with less burden on both the patient and the healthcare system.
Máxima MC remains committed to innovative solutions to improve patient care. With this study, they are taking an important step toward the future of personalized, digital care for cardiac patients.
Title of the PhD thesis: Remote care and sensor technology in heart failure management
Supervisors: Hareld Kemps, Yuan Lu and Ruud Spee
Her research was part of Eindhoven MedTech Innovation Center (e/MTIC), the partnership between TU/e, Catharina Hospital, Máxima Medisch Centrum, Kempenhaeghe and Philips.
