UCSF is launching a remote patient monitoring program aimed at identifying arrhythmias in expectant mothers and improving detection, treatment and long-term care.
Researchers at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) are enrolling mothers-to-be in a remote patient monitoring study aimed at analyzing how pregnancy affects heart health.
The San Francisco-based university and affiliated health system is partnering with digital health company Vivalink in the BRITE-MOM study, which will use wearable ECG monitors to track participants in real time. The study aims to monitor women with congenital heart disease and pre-eclampsia through pregnancy and six months after delivery to identify signs of arrhythmia.
"Women with congenital heart disease and pre-eclampsia face a significantly elevated risk of arrhythmia during pregnancy, yet data on how and when these arrhythmias occur remain limited," Nicky Herrick, MD, a cardiology fellow at UCSF and one of the study’s principal investigators, said in a press release. "Our goal is to generate a detailed picture of the types, frequency, and symptoms of arrhythmias in pregnancy using wearable technology that allows us to monitor participants safely and remotely."
[Read also: New Study: RPM Reimbursement Needs a Reset.]
Healthcare providers are embracing RPM at a rapid pace, with an eye toward tracking their patients outside the hospital, doctor’s office or clinic and understanding how daily life may affect their health. In this particular case the focus is on identifying cardiac complications and reducing maternal mortality, which caused almost 33 deaths per 100,000 live births in the U.S. in 2021, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The study will collect round-the-clock data on heart rate variability, arrhythmia episodes and early indicators of cardiac stress. Often these indicators won’t show up in an office exam, either through testing or talking with patients, so it’s crucial to gather that data as the patient goes through her day.
UCSF says the study will help clinicians better understand arrhythmia patterns that can help guide early detection, clinical intervention and long-term care management.
"By incorporating wearable devices for long-term use, we are able to better capture arrhythmia episodes and early signs of cardiac stress that could otherwise go undetected," added Anushree Agarwal, MD, a UCSF Health cardiologist and co-principal investigator, in the press release.
Eric Wicklund is the associate content manager and senior editor for Innovation at HealthLeaders.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Roughly 33 out of 100,000 live births in 2021 ended with the mother’s death, many of which were caused by cardiac issues.
Healthcare organizations are turning to wearables and digital health platforms to monitor mothers-to-be in real-time, rather than relying on exams and conversations with the patient during doctor’s visits.
UCSF is partnering with digital health company Vivalink to track expectant mothers with a wearable ECG monitor before birth and up to six months after delivery.