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Patients with deaths from COVID-19 often have co-morbid cardiovascular disease. Real-time cardiovascular disease monitoring based on wearable medical devices may effectively reduce COVID-19 mortality rates. However, due to technical limitations, there are three main issues. First, the traditional wireless communication technology for wearable medical devices is difficult to satisfy the real-time requirements fully. Second, current monitoring platforms lack efficient streaming data processing mechanisms to cope with the large amount of cardiovascular data generated in real time. Third, the diagnosis of the monitoring platform is usually manual, which is challenging to ensure that enough doctors online to provide a timely, efficient, and accurate diagnosis. To address these issues, this paper proposes a 5G-enabled real-time cardiovascular monitoring system for COVID-19 patients using deep learning. Firstly, we employ 5G to send and receive data from wearable medical devices. Secondly, Flink streaming data processing framework is applied to access electrocardiogram data. Finally, we use convolutional neural networks and long short-term memory networks model to obtain automatically predict the COVID-19 patient's cardiovascular health. Theoretical analysis and experimental results show that our proposal can well solve the above issues and improve the prediction accuracy of cardiovascular disease to 99.29%.
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Introduction: The COVID19 pandemic spurred an unprecedented growth in telehealth utilization across medical specialties which challenged providers to adapt their standard history and physical protocols for the virtual realm. Heart failure clinicians could readily translate some aspects of physical examination such as jugular venous distention and lower extremity edema assessment over video incorporating bendopnea to gain additional information. However, objective data for clinicians to rely on and guide therapy was often missing. A myriad of technology is available to bridge this gap ranging from simple wearables to invasive hemodynamic monitors though come with varying price tags and avenues of accessibility. Objective(s): We sought to develop an affordable, patient-facing electronic stethoscope of comparable quality to those existing that could seamlessly integrate with any telemedicine platform for real-time or asynchronous clinician review. Method(s): A rigorous design process guided by clinician and patient input generated nearly 100 concepts stratified through a pugh decision matrix in reference to an existing product, the Eko Core, to decide on the most suitable design - the AusculBand. With the form factor of a wrist-band, the AusculBand encases a custom bell with a high fidelity microphone and unique circuitry to sit comfortably in the palm of a user's hand to facilitate self-auscultation over the chest wall for real-time clinician review via telemedicine. Recognizing cardiac sounds to fall between 20 Hz and 2000 Hz, frequency response testing was conducted to determine the cut-off frequency of the AusculBand. With knowledge of an industry standard signal-to-noise ratio of 10.31 dB, a simple comparative study was devised between our novel AusculBand and the commercial Eko Core. With each device, a single-user in replicative fashion collected cardiac signals from the chest wall and background noise from the bicep to generate signal-to-noise ratio readouts and compare overall sound quality. Result(s): In response to frequency testing, the AusculBand was found to attenuate frequencies higher than 1997 Hz when testing a signal that swept through a range of 0 to 3,000 Hz at a constant amplitude. This result was within 0.2% of the 2000 Hz upper-limit of cardiac sounds and surpassing our design input goal of <= 1%. Signal-to-noise ratio analysis revealed 27.29 dB for the AusculBand and 24.02 dB for the Eko Core each exceeding the industry standard of 10.31 dB. Head-to-head comparison revealed the AusculBand achieved nearly double the loudness of the Eko Core. The projected price of the AusculBand is $80. The Eko Core is currently marketed at $350. Conclusion(s): The AusculBand is a cost-effective, patient-facing electronic stethoscope that surpasses industry standards in signal-to-noise ratio and is readily adaptable to popular telemedicine platforms. Additional modification is underway to add a single-lead electrocardiogram to bolster the device as an all-in-one, affordable and accessible telemedicine tool for cardiac analysis.Copyright © 2022
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Background Management of pediatric pulmonary hypertension (PH) may require manipulation of multiple receptor sites to maximize response to medical therapy. Assessment of response typically occurs through imaging, labs, physical exam and recurrent cardiac catheterization, with anesthetic exposure to assess pulmonary artery pressures (PAP) and vascular resistance (PVR). We aimed to assess feasibility, safety and utility of remote PAP monitoring in pediatric PH patients. Methods We reviewed 4 pediatric patients with significant PH, each of whom underwent cardiac catheterization with pulmonary vasoreactivity testing and placement of a CardioMEMS remote PAP monitoring device. Results Four patients (P1-4: ages 5, 6, 8 and 10 years old) underwent CardioMEMS insertion without procedural complication. P1, P2 and P3 presented with unrepaired VSD;ASD with partial anomalous pulmonary venous return;and ASD and PDA, respectively, while P4 had prior repair of atrioventricular canal. Three patients had Down syndrome. All had elevated PAP and PVR. Mean left lower PA branch size was 7 mm. Mean PAP prior to therapy was 70 mm Hg for P1, 82 for P2, 93 for P3 and 30 for P4. All 4 patients required initiation of triple therapy for treatment of PH, with improvement or normalization of PAP by CardioMEMS, which also included surgical or catheter based intervention for 3 patients. Post-repair of P2, he was unable to be separated from cardiopulmonary bypass and was placed on ECMO. Right ventricular cardiac output improved over 2 weeks, with improvement of PAP determined through serial CardioMEMS. He was successfully decannulated, utilizing CardioMEMS in the OR. Two patients also developed COVID respiratory infections at home with CardioMEMS assessments allowing for oxygen and medication titration. Conclusion Remote PAP monitoring is feasible and appears safe in pediatric patients with adequate PA size. It allows for manipulation of medical therapy with real time knowledge of impact on PAP and can augment management during weaning of mechanical cardiac support. It may also augment decision-making in management of PH patients with developmental disabilities in whom traditional assessments may be more challenging.Copyright © 2023 American College of Cardiology Foundation
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Background The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a major surge in telehealth practices, including the increased utilization of remote Pulmonary Artery Pressure (PAP) among cardiologists worldwide. This study aimed to assess the sociodemographic differences in the utilization of the CardioMEMS HF system for remote PAP monitoring in patients with Heart Failure in the USA. Methods The National inpatient sample database of the USA was queried for all patients with HF who received the CardioMEMS HF system between 2016 and 2019. Multiple logistic regression models were subsequently performed to investigate the socio-demographic factors influencing remote pulmonary artery pressure measurements. Results A total of 1540 patients had a CardioMEMS device for remote PAP monitoring between 2016 and 2019. Following a multivariate analysis accounting for potential confounders, we noted that the use of remote PAP was lower in women vs. men (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 0.65, CI 0.52 - 0.82, p < 0.001). Patients who lived in low (AOR: 0.38, CI 0.25 - 0.57, p < 0.001), medium (AOR: 0.57, CI 0.40 - 0.82, p = 0.003), and high-income neighborhoods (AOR: 0.60, CI 0.44 - 0.82, p < 0.001), were also less likely to have remote PAP compared to patients who lived in very high-income neighborhoods. There was no racial difference or association between device use and primary insurance payer. Conclusion There are inequities in the utilization of remote PAP monitoring amongst the Heart Failure population within the USA.Copyright © 2023 American College of Cardiology Foundation
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Although it is a rare disease, the number of available therapeutic options for treating pulmonary arterial hypertension has increased since the late 1990s, with multiple drugs developed that are shown to be effective in phase 3 randomised controlled trials. Despite considerable advancements in pulmonary arterial hypertension treatment, prognosis remains poor. Existing therapies target pulmonary endothelial dysfunction with vasodilation and anti-proliferative effects. Novel therapies that target proliferative vascular remodelling and affect important outcomes are urgently needed. There is need for additional innovations in clinical trial design so that all emerging candidate therapies can be rigorously studied. Pulmonary arterial hypertension trial design has shifted from short-term submaximal exercise capacity as a primary endpoint, to larger clinical event-driven trial outcomes. Event-driven pulmonary arterial hypertension trials could face feasibility and efficiency issues in the future because increasing sample sizes and longer follow-up durations are needed, which would be problematic in such a rare disease. Enrichment strategies, innovative and alternative trial designs, and novel trial endpoints are potential solutions that could improve the efficiency of future pulmonary arterial hypertension trials while maintaining robustness and clinically meaningful evidence.Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd
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Introduction/ Background: Non-pharmaceutical interventions are important public health measures targeted at behavioral changes to interrupt the transmission of coronavirus in humans. This study evaluated the challenges of implementing non-pharmaceuticalinterventions, assessed adherence, and identified requirements to the successful control of the spread of COVID-19 among individuals living in an urban-slum setting in Lagos-Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted among resident of an urban-slum in Makoko, Lagos-Nigeria. Adult members of households aged 18 years and above were selected via convenient sampling. An interviewer administered semi-structured questionnaire was used to obtain information on sociodemographic characteristics, living conditions and adherence to non-pharmaceutical interventions over a period of five-months from May to September 2020. Adherence to nonpharmaceutical intervention was determined by calculating an adherence index from 10 evidence based protective behaviors and a self-report of adhering to the measures. Descriptive-statistics and multiple-logistics regression model were used to determine challenges and factors associated with adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures. Results: A total of 357 participants with a mean-age of 45.8 ± 12.9 years were included in the analysis. Majority were males (62.2%) and married (83.8%). Most participants (93.8%) had no space for selfisolation as majority lived in a one-roomapartment (72.8%), shared toilets/kitchen-space (63.6%) with other families and had no constant source of water-supply (61.9%). About 98.8% are aware of the pandemic but only 33.9% adhered to the preventive-measures. The ability to afford facemasks/hand-sanitizers (aOR:6.7;95% CI:3.8-11.6), living-alone (aOR:3.7;95%CI:1.3-10.6), and ability to buy-water (aOR:0.3;95% CI:0.1-0.5) were found to be associated with adherence to the preventivemeasures after adjusting for covariates in a multilogistic- regression-model. Impact: This study gives insight on the realities/challenges of implementing non-pharmaceutical-intervention against COVID-19 disease in a setting of economically disadvantaged individuals who are at a great risk of being a hub for circulating the virus. This will aid the government in addressing cogent factors that might fuel re-occurrence of the pandemic waves. Conclusion: Implementation of non-pharmaceutical interventions for COVID-19 prevention was a challenge as only a quarter of residents adhered to national guidelines. Government should prioritize vaccinating these cohort of individuals and address factors like poor housing, overcrowding and lack of public water supply that affects adherence to public health measures in this setting.
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Background: Despite several pharmacological advances, the morbidity and mortality in heart failure (HF) remain high, posing a problem for both patients and the National Health System. The natural history of this disease alternates phases of stability and phases of exacerbation, with a progressive decline in the patient's functional capacity and quality of life;this has led to the development of remote monitoring systems. These devices are emerging as an important tool for the effective HF management, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We enrolled 6 patients with end-stage HF, who received the combined CardioMEMS / Levosimendan strategy to reduce the number of hospitalizations and optimize both tailored adjustment of home therapy and infusions of Levosimendan. Specifically, CardioMEMS is a wireless sensor that can be implanted in the pulmonary artery, where it detects cardiac filling pressures, an objective measure of the patient's hemodynamic congestion;these pressures increase two weeks before the onset of symptomatic congestion. Results: The 6 patients (72.25±4.60 years;33.33% female) who received the device did not have any complications related to the procedure. Patients were monitored daily by CardioMEMS;if the cardiologist detected a tendency for pulmonary artery diastolic pressure (PAPd) to rise, patients were contacted for home therapeutic changes. If no further changes were possible, the patient was hospitalized for the infusion of Levosimendan. In particular, following the implantation of CardioMEMS, a significant reduction in HF unscheduled hospital admissions was recorded (hospitalizations / month: pre-CardioMEMS 0.657±0.303 vs post-CardioMEMS 0.029±0.021, p 0.0313) (Figure 1). In addition, lower pulmonary arterial pressures were recorded at 6-months FU on CardioMEMS monitoring (pre vs post: PAPs: 51.25±2.56 vs 42.75±2.46 mmHg, p 0.0168;PAPd: 26.25±0.85 vs 20.25±0.85 mmHg, p 0.0034), a reduction in the echocardiographic E/e' ratio (20.86±1.77 vs 14.13±2.02, p 0.0057), an improvement in the quality of life (EQ5D 75.17±2.06 vs 108.60±8.70, p 0.0078) and a reduction in IL-6 levels (p 0.0211). Conclusions: In this study we present the first experience of serial infusions of Levosimendan guided by CardioMEMS. Our results support the usefulness of this device in remote management of the HF patient, especially during this pandemic.
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Background: Outpatient hemodynamic-guided heart failure (HF) management is suggested to decrease HF morbidity. With the recent publication of results from the GUIDE-HF trial, we performed an updated meta-analysis of related randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Methods: A PubMed literature search was conducted to identify RCTs exploring the benefit of remote hemodynamic monitoring. The studied demographic included adults diagnosed with HF that were implanted with continuous hemodynamic monitoring devices, regardless of ejection fraction, and with NYHA severity ranging from II-IV. The primary outcome examined was the rate of HF hospitalizations before the COVID-19 pandemic. Random Effects Hartung-Knapp method was used to estimate the pooled odds ratio (OR). Additional sensitivity analysis, using data from the GUIDE-HF trial, was conducted to evaluate the impact of the pandemic on the overall results. Results: A significant decrease in hospitalizations was noted with an estimated pooled OR 0.62 [95% CI 0.41 - 0.94] after including the pre-COVID-19 GUIDE-HF results in the meta-analysis. The I2 statistic was estimated at 38% (p = 0.18). Further sensitivity analysis revealed that this benefit lost statistical significance with the overall results of the GUIDE-HF trial, OR 0.66 [95% CI 0.42 - 1.02]. Conclusion: Our results show that remote hemodynamic monitoring significantly decreases HF-related hospitalizations. Limitations to our findings include;1) GUIDE-HF trial contributed to 35% of the overall results 2) Follow-up time was variable amongst the RCTs 3) Results including data since COVID-19 affected the frequency of HF patient follow-up, possibly affecting the overall results from the GUIDE-HF trial. Given the evolving circumstances relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, further investigations on the pragmatic utility of hemodynamic-guided HF management are warranted.
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Case Report Role of PA pressure monitoring in preventing recurrent hospital admissions in HF Case presentation A 67-year-old male with a past medical history of nonischemic cardiomyopathy, HFrEF NYHAIII StageC, hypertension, and DM with recent LHC in 2019 showed mild diffuse atherosclerosis was managed conservatively. He received an implantable PA monitoring device (CardioMEMS) in March 2021 to remotely monitor his home PA pressures on a daily basis. The average diastolic PA pressures were in the range of 5-10 mmHg since insertion of the ambulatory device with routine HF medication and lifestyle modifications. The daily monitoring system began to sense gradually raising diastolic PA from 19-22 mmg Hg. The patient was contacted to screen for any acute worsening of heart failure. He reported worsening of shortness of breath and a decrease in appetite corresponding to raising End DP PA pressure by the CardioMEMS. The patient was advised to 2X Lasix and report to the outpatient clinic. In the next 3-4 days, Diastolic PA began trending upward, peaking in the range of 25-30 mmg Hg. The patient was scheduled for an urgent outpatient visit;at this, we noted that there were no signs of fluid overload in the peripheries or any significant weight gain but worsening of his shortness of breath with all other examinations appearing normal. The patient's diuretics regiment was further intensified in this encounter. Subsequent ambulatory pulmonary diastolic pressure begins to trend down towards his usual range of 10 mmHg with the improvement of the patient's symptom of shortness of breath. His diuretics were gradually stepped down, and he continued to maintain his usual state health with improvement in his clinical outcomes. Discussion In clinical practice, ambulatory hemodynamic monitoring of a patient with cardioMEMS made clinicians take medicine one step closer to the patient's home and intercept treatment earlier, even before any worsening clinical signs, helping avoid hospitalization and at the same time improve patients quality of life in HF. GUIDE-HF study of 1000 patients reported that hemodynamics-guided management of heart failure did not result in lowering the composite endpoint rate of mortality but indicated a possible benefit primarily driven by a lower heart failure hospitalization rate compared with the control group.2 In this new era of COVID, we can mitigate the need for our patients to come to the medical facility frequently and to be able to keep our advanced HF patients safe and healthy at home. Conclusion Ambulatory hemodynamic monitoring based on pulmonary pressure guided therapy for HF has shown beyond doubt that lower PA pressure, lower rates of heart failure are associated with hospital admission. These devices can sense very early changes in patient clinical conditions even before any early signs of fluid overload appear. Above all, it builds a huge patient-provider trust by knowing your patients' hemodynamics the best.
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Background: COVID-19 exerts deleterious cardiopulmonary effects, leading to worse prognosis in the most effected. Purpose: The aim of this retrospective multi-center observational cohort study was to analyze the trajectories of key advanced hemodynamic parameters amongst hospitalized COVID-19 patients according to different risk populations using a chest-patch wearable providing continuous remote patient monitoring. Methods: The study was conducted in five COVID-19 isolation units. Patients admitted to the units were connected to a photoplethysmography based noninvasive remote advanced hemodynamic monitor after completing a basic risk factor survey. Physiological parameters were measured every 15 minutes during the hospitalization, including cardiac output (CO), cardiac index (CI), systemic vascular resistance (SVR), heart rate, blood pressure (BP), respiratory rate, blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), and body temperature. Results: 492 COVID-19 patients (179 females, average age 58.7 years) were included in the final analysis, with more than 3 million measurements collected during an average of 75.3 hours. Overall, within the first five days of hospitalizations we found a significant increase in SVR, and a significant decrease in SpO2, DBP, CO and CI (p<0.01 for all). The changes were more prominent in high risk populations- males, older age and obesity and had a temporal correspondence to changes in respiratory parameters. Conclusions: This is the first comprehensive continuous advanced hemodynamic profiling of COVID-19 patients. Worse hemodynamic status was prominent in high risk populations.