Personal Decision Support System for Heart Failure Management

Summary

Despite the availability of evidence-based guidelines for disease management in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF), the uptake of these guidelines in clinical practice is sub-optimal and adherence rates are disappointing. Within the HeartMan project, a personal e-health system was developed to help CHF patients manage their disease, with the ultimate goal to improve health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The system uses wrist-band sensors to monitor patients' physical activity and physiological parameters. These data are connected to a decision support system, providing medical advice to patients concerning physical exercise, nutrition, medication intake, clinical measurements, environment management, and mental support. The decision support system is based on predictive models, clinical care guidelines and expert knowledge. The advice will be personalized according to each individual patient's medical and psychological profile, and will be presented to the patient through the user interface of a mobile application on a smartphone. A proof of concept trial with a 1:2 (control:intervention) randomization protocol was designed. The sample size calculation was based on primary outcome data from the previous CHIRON project, showing that 90 patients are needed to show at least -5.8 (± 6 to 8 s.d.) beats/min difference in average daily awake heart rate difference - as a fundamental parameter correlating with patient reported HRQoL - with 90% power between the two groups. Data collection will include an estimation of exercise capacity based on a six-minute walking test, and questionnaire assessments using standardized instruments. The trial will be initiated in two countries. In order to account for possible dropouts, 60 patients will be enrolled in Italy and 60 in Belgium (20 control and 40 intervention patients in each country). Target patients are stable ambulatory CHF patients (NYHA class 2-3; reduced left ventricular ejection fraction ≤40%). Eligible patients will be recruited by their treating physician from collaborating medical centers in both countries; they will be enrolled in the trial after giving informed consent for participation. After baseline assessment, patients will be randomized into either the intervention (duration of 6 months) or control (usual care) condition. Data collection will be repeated at the end of the trial.

Conditions

• Heart Failure, Congestive

Interventions

DEVICE

HeartMan system

The HeartMan system uses wristband sensors to monitor patients' physical activity and physiological parameters. These data are connected to a decision support system, providing medical advice to patients concerning physical exercise, nutrition, medication intake, clinical measurements, environment management, and mental support. The decision support system is based on predictive models, clinical care guidelines and expert knowledge. The advice will be personalized according to each individual patient's medical and psychological profile, and will be presented to the patient through the user interface of a mobile application on a smartphone.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University Ghent

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Roma La Sapienza

  collaborator OTHER

• Jozef Stefan Institute

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Els Clays, PhD · University Ghent

• Paolo Emilio Puddu, PhD · University of Roma La Sapienza

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2018-01-01

Primary Completion

2019-05-31

Completion

2019-05-31

Countries

• Belgium
• Italy

Study Locations