Greece Drives Breakthrough in Heart Failure Telemonitoring with AI
Athens, January 18 – Greece is spearheading a groundbreaking European clinical study, RETENTION, focused on enhancing the care of heart failure patients through advanced telemonitoring and artificial intelligence. This initiative, highlighted by Professor Gerasimos Filippatos, an internationally recognised cardiologist at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and director of the Second University Cardiology Clinic at Attikon Hospital, aims to significantly improve mortality, morbidity, and quality of life for those suffering from advanced heart failure.
Greece at the Heart of European Research
Professor Filippatos, speaking to FM Agency and journalist Tania Mantouvalou, underscored Greece’s pivotal role in the RETENTION study. This multicentre European programme involves 390 patients across six major centres in Italy, Spain, Germany, and Greece. Notably, almost half of the participants are Greek, with patients recruited from the Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center and Attikon Hospital, positioning Greece as a central hub for this critical research.
Patients in the study are categorised into three groups: those with chronic heart failure, individuals with advanced heart failure receiving mechanical circulatory support, and heart transplant recipients. Professor Filippatos emphasised that the most significant improvements in quality of life are observed among patients who have undergone advanced treatment or transplantation.
AI Models Predict Patient Deterioration
The primary objectives of the RETENTION study are to reduce hospital admissions and mortality rates, while simultaneously enhancing patients’ daily lives. Participants are monitored remotely using smartwatches and smartphones, with support from biotechnology and computer science specialists. Health indicators such as heart rate, blood pressure, weight, dietary habits, and sleep quality are uploaded to the RETENTION digital platform. This data, combined with environmental information and follow-up visit details, is then used to develop sophisticated artificial intelligence models capable of predicting patient deterioration at an early stage.
Patients Report Enhanced Sense of Safety
Despite the study being ongoing, initial observations indicate that telemonitoring provides patients with a greater sense of safety. Professor Filippatos noted that even with an average age exceeding 70, participants are adapting well to these new technologies, either independently or with assistance from caregivers. Greece’s substantial patient cohort is expected to facilitate the application of the study’s conclusions into clinical practice once the programme concludes, given the crucial role of health system structure and centre expertise in the success of telemonitoring initiatives.
Prospects for Nationwide Implementation in Greece
While several European health systems are already piloting similar initiatives and Greek centres currently employ telemonitoring on a limited basis, Professor Filippatos expressed optimism for broader implementation in Greece. He suggested that the country’s extensive network of heart failure clinics, established in 2017, could serve as a robust framework for organising nationwide adoption of remote monitoring. Currently, Greece boasts over 60 such clinics, predominantly within the public health system. With governmental support, remote monitoring for heart failure patients could be implemented across the country within the next three years.
Professor Filippatos clarified that heart failure clinics adhere to specific monitoring protocols and are staffed by cardiologists trained in advanced heart failure management. While all cardiologists possess considerable experience due to the high prevalence of the condition among older patients, advanced cases frequently necessitate specialised therapeutic interventions and close follow-up through dedicated heart failure clinics.
