RT Journal
A1 Trappenburg J, Groenwold R, Schuurmans M
T1 Increased mortality following telemonitoring in frail elderly patients: Look before you leap!
JF Archives of Internal Medicine
JO Archives of Internal Medicine
YR 2012
FD November 12
VO 172
IS 20
SP 1612
OP 1612
DO 10.1001/archinternmed.2012.4421
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2012.4421
AB 
Telemonitoring is often proposed as an efficient way to provide health care. The recent study by Takahashi et al1 examining telemonitoring in vulnerable patients with mixed chronic diseases clearly reflects the need for meticulous scientific approaches to study these types of interventions. Telemonitoring aims at early detection and prompt action in the case of health deterioration. Although patients reported high satisfaction and a sense of safety,2 telemonitoring failed to reduce hospital admissions and emergency department visits. Surprisingly, it resulted in a 4-fold increase in mortality risk (relative risk, 3.8; 95% CI, 1.3-11.0). This suggests that telemonitoring in frail elderly patients is hazardous, causing more harm than good. However, one can question the validity of this conclusion.