Socioeconomic impact of informal care provided to patients with remote monitoring of pacemakers

Abstract

Abstract Background The aging of the population leading patients with pacemakers to exhibit more comorbidities and, consequently, a greater need for both formal and informal care. The objective of this study was to assess personal characteristics, associated problems, workloads, time, and costs related to informal care provided to patients with pacemakers under remote monitoring (RM) vs. conventional monitoring (CM) at hospital, five years after implantation. Methods This is a controlled, non-randomised nor masked trial conducted with information obtained from the perspective of informal caregivers. The “Disability, personal autonomy, and dependency situations survey” was administered to collect information on sociodemographic characteristics, time, care difficulties, health status, professional aspects, and impact on economic, family, or leisure aspects of main caregivers providing care to patients with pacemakers. Results of the 50 patients who reported having informal caregivers, 42% belonged to the RM group. The average age was 63.14 years, 96% were women, and 72% was married. Informal caregivers lived in the homes of the patients in 70% of cases, and 88% indicated that they had to provide care six to seven days a week. The average cost per patient during the monitoring period studied was 13.17% lower in the RM group than in the CM group, and these differences were not statistically significant (p = 0.35). Conclusions This study found similar results in both groups of follow-up with respect to sociodemographic characteristics, workload, time, and problems associated with health, leisure and relatives. The costs associated with care were higher in the CM group. Key messages There are not significant differences between both groups of follow-up with respect to sociodemographic characteristics, workload, time, and problems associated with health, leisure and relatives. The average cost per patient during the monitoring period studied was 13.17% lower in the Remote Monitoring group than in the Conventional Monitoring group.