Future Patient - Telerehabilitation of Patients With Heart Failure II

Aage and Johanne Louis-Hansens Foundation, Laboratory of Welfare Technology, Department of Health Science and Technology, AAU, Viborg Regional Hospital, Skive Healthcare Center, Viborg Healthcare Center, Department of Psychology, Aarhus University, Department of Photonics Engineering, Technical University of Denmark

The aim of the study is to test and evaluate the use of video consultations and an algorithm for weight gain and loss in the Future Patient Telerehabilitation program for HF patients in an RCT.

Next steps The Future Patient study - telerehabilitation of HF patients II Based on the preliminary results from FP I (being published fall 2020) and a review of literature, the investigators would like to improve our telerehabilitation program and technologies in order to prepare for implementation of the FTP and technologies. The HF patients in FP I expressed that the KCCQ was too long when having to complete the questionnaire every other week. Therefore, the investigators would like to test a shorter questionnaire HeartQoL (ESC) as a patient-reported outcome tool every month. Video consultations instead of physical meetings with doctors and nurses at the hospital. Currently, there is a lack of evidence regarding the use of video to decrease physical visits at the hospitals instead of video consultations. Test of algorithms for detecting an increase in weight on two days following clinical cardiac guidelines (Ponikowski et al 2016).

The intervention group will participate in the telerehabilitation program (please see detailed description of telerehabilitation program and technologies). The two steps in the telerehabilitation program last up to six months depending on how fast the titration of medicine in step one will be conducted. The intervention group will spend 5-10 minutes every day on monitoring themselves. Every month, an online questionnaire has to be filled in which will take up to 5 minutes. At enrolment, after titration of medicine, and the end of rehabilitation, the patient will fill in an online questionnaire. This will take 5 minutes each time. Selected patients and relatives will be asked if they wish to participate in interviews after participation in the trial. Each interview will last less than one hour. Number of interviews will be decided when data saturation has been achieved.

The control group will follow a conventional rehabilitation program (Egstrup et al 2015). The control subjects will participate in medicine titration for 1- 3 months and conventional rehabilitation for 3 months. The participation in the control group will last up to six months. The exact period depends on how fast the titration of medicine is conducted. At enrolment, after titration of medicine, and end of rehabilitation, the patient will fill in a questionnaire. This will take 5 minutes each time.

Blood pressure (iHealth Neo/BP5s), weight (iHealth Lina), step counters(Fitbit Inspire & Charge 3), sleep sensor (Emfit QS), and tablet (iPad Air 2).

Intervention: at baseline, after 1 month, after 2 months, after 3 months, after 4 months, after 5 months, after 6 months. Control: baseline, after 3 months, after 6 months

Number of phone and video contacts to the healthcare professionals between intervention and control group

Interviews with HF patients and healthcare professionals regrind their experiences with the use of video consultations

Inclusion Criteria: Patients diagnosed with HF NYHA Class II-IV, who have a current hospitalization for acute decompensated HF or a visit to the HF outpatient clinic within the past two weeks Patients with an EF of 40% or less Adults (18 years or older); no upper age limit Patients living in Viborg and Skive Municipality Patients living at home and capable of caring for themselves Have basic computer skills or a relative who have basic computer skills Exclusion Criteria: Pregnancy Drug addiction defined as the use of cannabis, opioids or other drugs Present and previous neurologic, musculoskeletal or cognitive disability or active psychiatric history (as noted in the medical record) other than depression or anxiety related to cardiac or other chronic illness Lack of ability to cooperate Does not speak/read/understand Danish