Device-based remote monitoring decreases hospital service use by nearly three-quarters when used to monitor patients requiring ongoing care and 24/7 support, according to a new study.
The researchers conducted a systematic review of cluster randomised control trials (RCTs) examining device-based remote monitoring in Europe and the US, compared to usual care in patients of all ages and with any health condition.
They included studies where device-based remote monitoring used telecommunications to transmit patient-related physiological data to the hospital, using either a non-implantable, implantable or mobile device for clinical decision-making.
Frequently studied health conditions were heart failure (45%), COPD (14%), diabetes (6%), and arrhythmia (6%). Reported outcomes included hospitalisation or re-hospitalisation, the length of hospital stay, and the number of emergency or outpatient clinic visits.
The researchers identified 3,083 studies and included 118 analyses (from 116 unique RCTs). In nearly three-quarters of the studies (n=85/118, 72%), the device-based remote monitoring group showed a decrease in hospital service use compared to standard care. The reductions in hospital use for the device-based remote monitoring group were mostly condition-related hospitalisations (53%), followed by all-cause hospitalisations (35%).
Device-based remote monitoring impact
The most commonly used devices were non-implantable devices such as wearables and scales, and these were associated with the smallest decrease in hospital service use (69%). Implanted or mobile devices were used less commonly but resulted in a greater reduction in hospital service use, at 89% and 76%, respectively.
Daily monitoring was the most common, with 69% of studies using daily measurements and 65% using daily data transmission. However, this resulted in a lower percentage reduction in hospital service use than continuous or less frequent monitoring. The frequency of data assessment by a healthcare worker also did not significantly affect the reduction in hospital service use.
In most studies, device-based remote monitoring involved doctors and nurses who were already participating in patient care. This scenario resulted in a smaller reduction in hospital service use (67%) than when healthcare providers outside the typical care team were involved (76%). An additional caregiver at home reduced hospital service use by 65%.
Finding that 72% of the included studies showed a decrease in at least some aspects of hospital service use indicates that device-based remote monitoring could play an essential role in healthcare.
The researchers concluded that with the addition of tailored support, automated processing and optimised care redesign, device-based remote monitoring has the potential to significantly improve hospital care at home.
Reference
Jansen, AJ et al. Device based monitoring in digital care and its impact on hospital service use. npj Digit. Med. 2025; Jan. 08: DOI: 10.1038/s41746-024-01427-8.
