A profile on the CardioMEMS HF system in the management of patients with early stages of heart failure: an update

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Over the past decade, there have been noteworthy advances in the evaluation and treatment of heart failure (HF). Despite an improved understanding of this chronic disease, HF is still one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the United States and worldwide. Decompensation and rehospitalization of HF patients remain an integral problem in disease management, with significant economic implications. Remote monitoring systems have been developed to detect HF decompensation early and address it before hospitalization. The CardioMEMS HF system is a wireless pulmonary artery (PA) monitoring system that detects changes in PA pressure and transmits data to the healthcare provider. As changes in PA pressures occur early during HF decompensation, the CardioMEMS HF system allows providers to institute timely changes in HF medical therapies to alter the course of the decompensation. The use of the CardioMEMS HF system has been shown to reduce HF hospitalization and improve quality of life.

Areas Covered

This review will focus on the available data supporting the expanded utilization of the CardioMEMS system in patients with HF.

Expert Opinion

The CardioMEMS HF system is a relatively safe and cost-effective device that reduces the incidence of HF hospitalization and qualifies as intermediate-to-high value medical care.

KEYWORDS:

• CardioMEMS HF System
• heart failure management
• hemodynamic monitoring
• heart failure hospitalization
• heart failure innovation

Article highlights

• The CardioMEMS HF remote monitoring system can impact real-world outcomes and has been shown to decrease heart failure hospitalizations, improve quality of life, and improve out-of-hospital survival.

• HF remains a major cause of hospitalization, morbidity, and mortality. The implementation of the CardioMEMS HF system has allowed for better outpatient monitoring and management in these patients.

• The results of the GUIDE-HF trial further support the use of remote PA pressure monitoring to guide medical therapy in all symptomatic ambulatory HF patients across the spectrum of left ventricular ejection fraction.

• The expanded FDA indication includes patients with New York Heart Association class II-III with either an HF hospitalization in the previous year and/or elevated natriuretic peptide levels.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewers interest

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial relationships or otherwise to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.