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Use of cell phone adapters is associated with reduction in disparities in remote monitoring of cardiac implantable electronic devices

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Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Remote monitoring (RM) of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) is standard of care. However, it is underutilized. In July 2012, our institution began providing cell phone adapters (CPAs) to patients free of charge following CIED implantation to improve remote transmission (RT) adherence.

Methods

Patients in our institution’s RM database from January 1, 2010, thru June 30, 2015, were retrospectively reviewed. There were 2157 eligible patients. Remote transmission proportion (RTP) and time to transmission (TT) were compared pre- and post-implementation of free CPA. Chi-squared analysis and Kruskal-Wallis tests were performed to compare RTP and TT.

Results

There was a significant increase in RTP (134 [18.4%] vs 99 [54.7%]; p < 0.001) and decrease in median TT in days (189[110–279] vs 58 [10–149]; p < 0.001) after CPAs were provided to patients. Caucasian patients were more likely than African Americans and Hispanics to use RM prior to CPAs (p = 0.04). After the implementation of CPAs, there was a significant increase in RTP for all racial groups (< 0.001) with no difference in RTP among racial groups (p = 0.18). The RTP for urban residents was significantly greater than non-urban residents with CPAs (p = 0.008). Patients greater than 70 years of age were significantly less likely to participate in RT before and after CPAs were provided (p = 0.03, p = 0.01, respectively).

Conclusions

CPAs significantly improve RTP and reduce median TT for all patients regardless of race, geographic residence, and age (> 70 years old to lesser extent). Broad institution of CPAs following ICD implantation could potentially reduce disparity in RTP and deserves more study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA

    Nick Mantini, Ryan T. Borne, Paul D. Varosy, Michael A. Rosenberg, Lucas N. Marzec, William H. Sauer & Duy T. Nguyen

  2. Stanford School of Medicine, Room H2152, 300 Pasteur Dr, Stanford, CA, 94305-5233, USA

    Duy T. Nguyen

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  1. Nick Mantini
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  2. Ryan T. Borne
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  3. Paul D. Varosy
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  4. Michael A. Rosenberg
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  5. Lucas N. Marzec
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  6. William H. Sauer
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  7. Duy T. Nguyen
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Correspondence to Duy T. Nguyen.

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Conflict of Interest

Drs. Sauer and Nguyen receive significant research grants from Biosense Webster and CardioNXT and educational grants from St Jude Medical, Boston Scientific, and Medtronic. Drs. Sauer and Nguyen have a provisional patent on partially insulated focused catheter ablation. Drs. Nguyen and Sauer have non-public equity interests/stock options in CardioNXT. No other authors reported disclosures.

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Mantini, N., Borne, R.T., Varosy, P.D. et al. Use of cell phone adapters is associated with reduction in disparities in remote monitoring of cardiac implantable electronic devices. J Interv Card Electrophysiol 60, 469–475 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10840-020-00743-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10840-020-00743-9

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