The kinocardiograph for assessment of fluid status in patients with acute decompensated heart failure.

Aims: To improve telemonitoring strategies in heart failure patients, there is a need for novel non-obtrusive sensors that monitor parameters closely related to intracardiac filling pressures. This proof-of-concept study aims to evaluate the responsiveness of cardiac kinetic energy (KE) measured with the Kinocardiograph (KCG), consisting of a seismocardiographic (SCG) sensor and a ballistocardiographic (BCG) sensor, during treatment of patients with acute decompensated heart failure.

Methods And Results: Eleven patients with acute decompensated heart failure who were hospitalized for treatment with intravenous diuretics received daily KCG measurements.

Telerehabilitation in patients with recent hospitalisation due to acute decompensated heart failure: protocol for the Tele-ADHF randomised controlled trial.

Background: Cardiac rehabilitation in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) has favourable effects on exercise capacity, the risk at hospital (re-)admission and quality of life. Although cardiac rehabilitation is generally recommended it is still under-utilised in daily clinical practice, particularly in frail elderly patients after hospital admission, mainly due to low referral and patient-related barriers. Cardiac telerehabilitation (CTR) has the potential to partially solve these barriers.

Home-Based Exercise Program for Patients With Combined Advanced Chronic Cardiac and Pulmonary Diseases: Exploratory Study.

Background: As chronic cardiac and pulmonary diseases often coexist, there is a need for combined physical home-based rehabilitation programs, specifically addressing older patients with advanced disease stages.

Objective: The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the completion and adherence rates of an 8-week, home-based exercise program for patients with advanced cardiopulmonary disease. The secondary end points include patient satisfaction; adverse events; and program efficacy in terms of change in functional capacity, level of dyspnea, and health-related quality of life.

The kinocardiograph for assessment of changes in haemodynamic load in patients with chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

Aims: The kinocardiograph (KCG) is an unobtrusive device, consisting of a chest sensor, which records local thoracic vibrations produced in result of cardiac contraction and ejection of blood into the great vessels [seismocardiography (SCG)], and a lower back sensor, which records micromovements of the body in reaction to blood flowing through the vasculature [ballistocardiography (BCG)]. SCG and BCG signals are translated to the integral of cardiac kinetic energy (iK) and cardiac maximum power (Pmax), which might be promising metrics for future telemonitoring purposes in heart failure (HF). As a first step of validation, this study aimed to determine whether iK and Pmax are responsive to exercise-induced changes in the haemodynamic load of the heart in HF patients.

Quality Assessment of an Integrated Care Pathway Using Telemonitoring in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Protocol for a Quasi-Experimental Study.

Background: Chronic heart failure (CHF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often coexist and are associated with a high morbidity and reduced quality of life (QoL). Although these diseases share similarities in symptoms and clinical course, and exacerbations of both diseases often overlap, care pathways for both conditions are usually not integrated. This results in frequent outpatient consultations and suboptimal treatment during exacerbations, leading to frequent hospital admissions.

Usefulness of Modern Activity Trackers for Monitoring Exercise Behavior in Chronic Cardiac Patients: Validation Study.

Background: Improving physical activity (PA) is a core component of secondary prevention and cardiac (tele)rehabilitation. Commercially available activity trackers are frequently used to monitor and promote PA in cardiac patients. However, studies on the validity of these devices in cardiac patients are scarce.