Fraunhofer Center for Assistive Information and Communication Solutions – AICOSDescription:
The increasing number of patients with heart failure is overloading the public healthcare systems. In Portugal there are 260,000 individuals with Heart Failure and in Europe this figure reaches 15,000,000. The prevalence of the disease in citizens with 70+ years is of over 10%. In Portugal, Europe and in the U.S., the costs associated with this pathology represent 1-2% of all costs related to healthcare and it is estimated that the recurrent hospitalizations, common in HF patients, correspond to, approximately, 70% of all HF costs.
The SmartBEAT project aims to address the needs of senior Heart Failure patients and their formal and informal caregivers by offering an integrated solution to leverage patient self-care through autonomous condition monitoring and real-time feedback to their carers. Using SmartBEAT, it is possible to improve disease outcomes and enhance the quality of life of senior Heart Failure patients.
Measurement of thoracic impedance is becoming increasingly available in the clinical setting as a tool for assessing hemodynamics and volume status in patients with heart failure. The 2 major categories of impedance assessment are the band electrode method and the implanted device lead method. Base Thoracic impedance is a sensitive measurement, indicating fluid retention in heart failure patients as early as 12 days before symptom development or weight gain.
The main objective for this thesis is to develop a mobile system to monitor patients Base Thoracic impedance. The user would be able to verify the performed measurement in Smart Companion and the device could be integrated in the SmartBEAT project.
Author: José Alves
Type: MSc thesis
Partner: Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto
Year: 2017
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