Telemonitoring in patients with chronic heart failure and moderate depressed symptoms: results of the Telemedical Interventional Monitoring in Heart Failure (TIM-HF) study

Eur J Heart Fail. 2021 Jan;23(1):186-194. doi: 10.1002/ejhf.2025. Epub 2020 Nov 9.

Abstract

Aims: Depression is a frequent comorbidity in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Telemonitoring has emerged as a novel option in CHF care. However, patients with depression have been excluded in most telemedicine studies. This pre-specified subgroup analysis of the Telemedical Interventional Monitoring in Heart Failure (TIM-HF) trial investigates the effect of telemonitoring on depressive symptoms over a period of 12 months.

Methods and results: The TIM-HF study randomly assigned 710 patients with CHF to either usual care (UC) or a telemedical intervention (TM) using non-invasive devices for daily monitoring electrocardiogram, blood pressure and body weight. Depression was evaluated by the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) with scores ≥10 defining clinically relevant depressive symptoms. Mixed model repeated measures were performed to calculate changes in PHQ-9 score. Quality of life was measured by the Short Form-36. At baseline, 156 patients had a PHQ-9 score ≥10 points (TM: 79, UC: 77) with a mean of 13.2 points indicating moderate depressiveness. Patients randomized to telemedicine showed an improvement of their PHQ-9 scores, whereas UC patients remained constant (P = 0.004). Quality of life parameters were improved in the TM group compared to UC. Adjustment was performed for follow-up, New York Heart Association class, medication, age, current living status, number of hospitalizations within the last 12 months and serum creatinine. In the study population without depression, the PHQ-9 score was similar at baseline and follow-up.

Conclusion: Telemedical care improved depressive symptoms and had a positive influence on quality of life in patients with CHF and moderate depression.

Keywords: Depression; Heart failure; Quality of life; Telemedicine.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Heart Failure*
  • Hospitalization
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Monitoring, Physiologic
  • Quality of Life
  • Telemedicine*