The TeleGuard trial of additional telemedicine care in CAD patients. 2 Morbidity and mortality after 12 months

J Telemed Telecare. 2008;14(1):22-6. doi: 10.1258/jtt.2007.070512.

Abstract

In the TeleGuard trial, 1500 patients with established coronary artery disease (CAD) were recruited and randomized to control or intervention groups. Patients in the intervention group were equipped with a 12-lead event recorder and could contact a call centre and transmit an ECG whenever they wished. In a 12-month study, the composite endpoint (all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, re-hospitalization or re-vascularization) was seen in 40% of the intervention patients and in 38% of the control patients. In both groups, approximately 40% were re-hospitalized. In total, 73 patients experienced re-vascularization, 75 showed an infarction and 33 died. Equipping CAD patients with a 12-lead ECG device and providing a telemedicine centre with 24-hour availability did not decrease risk for the composite endpoint (re-hospitalization, re-vascularization, (subsequent) myocardial infarction and/or death). It is likely that the clinical pathway used in the telemedicine centre led to an increased hospital admission rate in the intervention group.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Coronary Artery Disease / mortality*
  • Electrocardiography / methods*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Hospitalization / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocardial Infarction / diagnosis*
  • Myocardial Infarction / prevention & control
  • Telemedicine* / statistics & numerical data
  • Treatment Outcome