Trial design

The clinical trial compares 710 patients suffering from chronic heart failure. It starts in 2008 for a period of at least 12 months for each patient. All participants continue to be attended by their treating out patient physician. After a detailed examination, they continue attending quarterly visits at their treating physician.

Half the patients are selected in a random process: They receive remote monitoring devices for free and measure blood pressure, weight and conduct an electrocardiogram (ECG) on a daily basis. All devices are mobile. Data from patients living in in Berlin and Brandenburg are collected at the Charité telemedical center (TMC, Berlin), data from patients living in Baden-Württemberg are gathered at the Robert Bosch hospital (TMC, Stuttgart).

All patients keep on to be cared by their GP, cardiologist and their hospital. The telemedical center has a backup function for periods in which the treating physician is not available (see illustration). 

The study design meets international scientific standards (multicenter, randomized, prospective, open, parallel, controlled).