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532865 
Journal Article 
The TeleGuard trial of additional telemedicine care in CAD patients. 2 morbidity and mortality after 12 months 
Waldmann, A; Katalinic, A; Schwaab, B; Richard, G; Sheikhzadeh, A; Raspe, H 
2008 
Yes 
Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare
ISSN: 1357-633X 
14 
1 
22-26 
English 
In the TeleGuard trial, 1500 patients with established coronary artery disease (CAD) were recruited and randomized to control or intervention groups. Patients in the intervention group were equipped with a 12-lead event recorder and could contact a call centre and transmit an ECG whenever they wished. In a 12-month study, the composite endpoint (all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, re-hospitalization or re-vascularization) was seen in 40% of the intervention patients and in 38% of the control patients. In both groups, approximately 40% were re-hospitalized. In total, 73 patients experienced re-vascularization, 75 showed an infarction and 33 died. Equipping CAD patients with a 12-lead ECG device and providing a telemedicine centre with 24-hour availability did not decrease risk for the composite endpoint (re-hospitalization, re-vascularization, (subsequent) myocardial infarction and/or death). It is likely that the clinical pathway used in the telemedicine Centre led to an increased hospital admission rate in the intervention group. 
acute myocardial-infarction; chronic heart-failure; acute coronary; syndrome; association task-force; practice guidelines; acc/aha; guidelines; american-college; case-management; telecardiology; angina