Mobile health in adults with congenital heart disease: current use and future needs

• DOI: 10.1007/s12471-016-0901-z
• Publication Date: 2016-09-19T03:48:15Z
• Authors: M. J. Schuuring; A. P. Backx; R. Zwart; A. H. Veelenturf; D. Robbers-Visser; M. Groenink; A. Abu-Hanna; N. Bruining; M. P. Schijven; B. J. Mulder; B. J. Bouma
• Keywords: mHealth; Outpatient clinic

Many adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) are affected lifelong by cardiac events, particularly arrhythmias and failure. Despite the care provided, event rate remains high. Mobile health (mHealth) brings opportunities to enhance daily monitoring hence timely response in an attempt improve outcome. However, it is not known if CHD currently using mHealth what type of they may need near future.Consecutive adult patients who visited outpatient clinic at Academic Medical Center Amsterdam were asked fill out questionnaires. Exclusion criteria for this study mental impairment or inability read write Dutch.All 118 participated (median age 40 (range 18-78) years, % male, 49 symptomatic) 92 owned a smartphone. Whereas only small minority (14 %) used mHealth, large majority (75 willing start. Most wanted use order receive more information on physical health, advice progression symptoms signs deterioration. Analyses age, gender complexity defect showed significantly less current smartphone usage older but no difference interest preferences application future.The relatively young population rarely uses motivated start mHealth. New initiatives required these chronic condition surveillance reveal reduction morbidity mortality improvement quality life can be achieved.