Smartphone-based remote monitoring solution for heart failure patients

The hospitalisation of patients with Heart Failure (HF) represents an increasing problem for the healthcare system with more than 26 million worldwide suffering from this disease. Predictions demonstrate that the total health expenditure will increase by 127% in 2030. In Portugal, demographic changes caused by an ageing population are associated with an increase in HF incidence rate, forecasting 479.921 Heart Failure patients by 2035. In this paper, we present the smartBEAT solution that was developed to monitor Heart Failure patients so that physicians can early detect HF decompensation and prevent HF hospitalisations. SmartBEAT collects data from several sensors: weigh scale, blood pressures, physical activity bracelet - and transmits to the cloud where a decision support algorithm helps to detect acute episodes early. The system was evaluated during a pilot phase for two weeks with nine seniors, and later for 1-3 months with 38 seniors HF patients. Adherence to the evaluation protocol was high, and perceptions on wellbeing and control over the disease were considered positive. Moreover, healthcare professionals were overwhelmed with the patients' high adherence and found the usability of the portal high, and providing interesting information about patients' health status.