Aims: Depression is a frequent comorbidity in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Telemonitoring has emerged as a novel option in CHF care. However, patients with depression have been excluded in most telemedicine studies. This pre-specified subgroup analysis of the Telemedical Interventional Monitoring in Heart Failure (TIM-HF) trial investigates the effect of telemonitoring on depressive symptoms over a period of 12months.
Methods and results: The TIM-HF study randomly assigned 710 patients with CHF to either usual care (UC) or a telemedical intervention (TM) using non-invasive devices for daily monitoring electrocardiogram, blood pressure and body weight. Depression was evaluated by the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) with scores ≥10 defining clinically relevant depressive symptoms. Mixed model repeated measures were performed to calculate changes in PHQ-9 score. Quality of life was measured by the Short Form-36. At baseline, 156 patients had a PHQ-9 score ≥10 points (TM: 79, UC: 77) with a mean of 13.2 points indicating moderate depressiveness. Patients randomized to telemedicine showed an improvement of their PHQ-9 scores, whereas UC patients remained constant (P = 0.004). Quality of life parameters were improved in the TM group compared to UC. Adjustment was performed for follow-up, New York Heart Association class, medication, age, current living status, number of hospitalizations within the last 12months and serum creatinine. In the study population without depression, the PHQ-9 score was similar at baseline and follow-up.
Conclusion Telemedical care improved depressive symptoms and had a positive influence on quality of life in patients with CHF and moderate depression.
Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:DRESDEN/oai:qucosa:de:qucosa:77098 |
Date | 22 December 2021 |
Creators | Köhler, Johanna Elisabeth |
Contributors | Universität Leipzig |
Source Sets | Hochschulschriftenserver (HSSS) der SLUB Dresden |
Language | German |
Detected Language | English |
Type | info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersion, doc-type:doctoralThesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/doctoralThesis, doc-type:Text |
Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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