The use of a new continuous wireless cardiorespiratory telemonitoring system by elderly patients at home

The diagnosis and management of increasing, numbers of patients with chroni c diseases in the community require new technologies and strategies of care . We have used a new wireless cardiorespiratory telemonitoring system: to m onitor 14 elderly patients with a variety of chronic diseases at home. The electrocardiogram (ECG), heart rate and variability, and breathing were rec orded on two separate occasions for 24 h. There was no difference in the da ta recorded when a research nurse applied the monitoring system and when th e patients applied it themselves. The ECG and heart rate were recorded for 98% of the monitored time, and the frequency and periodicities of breathing were recorded for 74% and 61% of sleep and rest time by visual and automat ic analysis, respectively. The results show that 24 h activity and cardiore spiratory telemonitoring can be performed by elderly patients at home. Sign ificant unsuspected abnormalities of breathing and heart rhythm, amenable t o treatment, were also detected.