Remote heart monitoring device to help cut health costs

Dubai: A new remote heart-monitoring device being introduced in the Gulf could cut out the need for hospitalisation and reduce health service costs.

The credit-card size "telemedical" device records an electrocardiogram (ECG) reading via sensors attached to the chest, which can then be transmitted via mobile or telephone to a medical reading facility. Recording an ECG in this way can stop patients visiting hospitals unnecessarily and therefore reduce healthcare costs.

John Fewings, MD, Vitaphone, said: "Often a heart arrhythmia occurs at home and by the time patients arrive at hospital it has stopped. So they stay in hospital for observation. If the ECG is carried out at home, it stops the need to visit a hospital, saving time for patients and money for hospitals."

He continued that only around 20 per cent of heart-related cases treated by ambulance services in Europe are necessary.

"This device can be used even by the elderly," Fewings continued. "It would be useful for off-shore oil rig workers because it would cut out the need for a helicopter ambulance, and also to measure the health of long-haul pilots in-flight," he said.

Heart disease is closely linked to obesity and diabetes, both of which have reached pandemic proportions in the Gulf region, mainly due to sedentary lifestyles. Devices will be available in the near future via hospitals and on healthcare professional recommendation.