Prospective evaluation of integrated device diagnostics for heart failure management: results of the TRIAGE-HF study

AimsThe primary aim of the TRIAGE-HF trial was to correlate cardiac implantable electronic device-generated heart failure risk status (HFRS) with signs, symptoms, and patient behaviours classically associated with worsening heart failure (HF). Methods and resultsTRIAGE-HF enrolled 100 subjects with systolic HF implanted with a Medtronic high-performance device and followed up at three Canadian HF centres. Study follow-up was up to 8months. The HFRS assigned each subject's overall risk of HF hospitalization in the next 30days and also highlighted abnormal device parameters contributing to a patient's risk status at the time of remote data transmission. Subjects with a high HFRS were contacted by telephone to assess symptoms, and compliance with prescribed therapies, nutrition, and exercise. Clinician-assessed risk and HFRS-calculated risk were correlated at both study baseline and exit. Twenty-four high HFRS occurrences were observed among 100 subjects. Device parameters associated with increased risk of HF hospitalization included OptiVol index (n=20), followed by low patient activity (n=18) and elevated night heart rate (n=12). High HFRS was associated with symptoms of worsening HF in 63% of cases (n=15) increasing to 83% of cases (n=20) when non-compliance with pharmacological therapies and lifestyle was considered. ConclusionsTRIAGE-HF is the first study to provide prospective data on the distribution of abnormal device parameters contributing to high HFRS. High HFRS has good predictive accuracy for patient-reported signs, symptoms, and behaviours associated with worsening HF status. As such, HFRS may be a useful tool for ambulatory HF monitoring to improve both patient-centred and health system level outcomes.