Utilization of the Remote Monitoring of Cardiac Implantable Electronic
Devices in a Diverse Demographic Cohort: Insights from a Single-Center
Observation
Abstract
Background Despite its clinical benefits, patient compliance to
remote monitoring (RM) of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs)
varies and remains under-studied in diverse populations.
Objective We sought to evaluate RM compliance, clinical
outcomes, and identify demographic and socioeconomic factors affecting
RM in a diverse urban population in New York. Methods This
retrospective cohort study included patients enrolled in CIED RM at
Montefiore Medical Center between December 2017 and May 2022. RM
compliance was defined as the percentage of days compliant to RM
transmission divided by the total prescribed days of RM. Patients were
censored when they were lost to follow-up or at the time of death. The
cohorts were categorized into low (≤30%), intermediate (31-69%), and
high (≥70%) RM compliance groups. Statistical analyses were conducted
accordingly. Results Among 853 patients, median RM compliance
was 55%. Age inversely affected compliance (p<0.001), and
high compliance was associated with guideline-directed medical therapy
(GDMT) usage and implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)/ cardiac
resynchronization defibrillator (CRTD) devices. The low-compliance group
had a higher mortality rate and fewer regular clinic visits
(p<0.001) than high-compliance group. Socioeconomic factors
did not significantly impact compliance, while Asians showed higher
compliance compared with Whites (OR 3.67; 95% CI 1.08-12.43; p=0.04).
Technical issues were the main reason for non-compliance.
Conclusion We observed suboptimal compliance to RM, which
occurred most frequently in older patients. Clinic visit compliance,
optimal medical therapy, and lower mortality were associated with higher
compliance, whereas insufficient understanding of RM usage was the chief
barrier to compliance.