Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Cardiac Electronic Device Management and Role of Remote Monitoring

Michele Magnocavallo; Giampaolo Vetta; Alessia Bernardini; Agostino Piro; Maria Chiara Mei; Martina Di Iorio; Marco Valerio Mariani; Domenico G Della Rocca; Paolo Severino; Raffaele Quaglione; Giuseppe Giunta; Cristina Chimenti; Fabio Miraldi; Carmine Dario Vizza; Francesco Fedele; Carlo Lavalle

doi:10.1016/j.ccep.2021.10.010

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Cardiac Electronic Device Management and Role of Remote Monitoring

Card Electrophysiol Clin. 2022 Mar;14(1):125-131. doi: 10.1016/j.ccep.2021.10.010. Epub 2021 Oct 30.

Authors

Michele Magnocavallo¹, Giampaolo Vetta², Alessia Bernardini², Agostino Piro², Maria Chiara Mei², Martina Di Iorio², Marco Valerio Mariani², Domenico G Della Rocca³, Paolo Severino², Raffaele Quaglione², Giuseppe Giunta², Cristina Chimenti², Fabio Miraldi², Carmine Dario Vizza², Francesco Fedele², Carlo Lavalle⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Cardiovascular/Respiratory Diseases, Nephrology, Anesthesiology, and Geriatric Sciences, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy; Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute, St. David's Medical Center, 3000 North IH-35, Suite 720, Austin, TX 78705, USA.
² Department of Cardiovascular/Respiratory Diseases, Nephrology, Anesthesiology, and Geriatric Sciences, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
³ Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute, St. David's Medical Center, 3000 North IH-35, Suite 720, Austin, TX 78705, USA.
⁴ Department of Cardiovascular/Respiratory Diseases, Nephrology, Anesthesiology, and Geriatric Sciences, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: [email protected].

Abstract

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) worldwide pandemic, patients with cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) refused scheduled follow-up visits because of the risk of infection. In this scenario, different telemedicine strategies have been implemented to ensure continuity of care to CIED patients. Patients can be monitored through dedicated applications, telephone calls, or virtual visits providing easy access to valuable information, such as arrhythmic events, acute decompensation manifestations, and device-related issues, without the need for in-person visits. This review provides a comprehensive description of the many possible applications of telemedicine for CIED patients during the COVID-19 period.

Keywords: CIED; COVID-19; Implantable cardiac defibrillator; Pacemaker; Remote monitoring; Telehealth; Telemedicine.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

COVID-19*
Defibrillators, Implantable*
Electronics
Humans
Pacemaker, Artificial*
Pandemics
SARS-CoV-2
Telemedicine*