Reimbursement practices for use of digital devices in atrial fibrillation and other arrhythmias: a European Heart Rhythm Association survey

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • Giuseppe Boriani
  • Emma Svennberg
  • Federico Guerra
  • Dr Linz, Dominik Karl
  • Ruben Casado-Arroyo
  • Katarzyna Malaczynska-Rajpold
  • David Duncker
  • Serge Boveda
  • Josè Luis Merino
  • Christophe Leclercq

Since digital devices are increasingly used in cardiology for assessing cardiac rhythm and detecting arrhythmias, especially atrial fibrillation (AF), our aim was to evaluate the expectations and opinions of healthcare professionals in Europe on reimbursement policies for the use of digital devices (including wearables) in AF and other arrhythmias. An anonymous survey was proposed through announcements on the European Heart Rhythm Association website, social media channels, and mail newsletter. Two hundred and seventeen healthcare professionals participated in the survey: 32.7%, reported regular use of digital devices, 45.2% reported that they sometimes use these tools, 18.6% that they do not use but would like to. Only a minority (3.5%) reported a lack of trust in digital devices. The survey highlighted a general propensity to provide medical consultation for suspected AF or other arrhythmias detected by a consumer-initiated use of digital devices, even if time constraints and reimbursement availability emerged as important elements. More than 85% of respondents agreed that reimbursement should be applied for clinical use of digital devices, also in different settings such as post-stroke, post-cardioversion, post-ablation, and in patients with palpitations or syncope. Finally, 73.6% of respondents confirmed a lack of reimbursement fees in their country for physicians' consultations (tracings interpretation) related to digital devices. Digital devices, including wearables, are increasingly and widely used for assessing cardiac rhythm and detecting AF, but a definition of reimbursement policies for physicians' consultations is needed.

Original languageEnglish
JournalEuropace : European pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac electrophysiology : journal of the working groups on cardiac pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac cellular electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology
Volume24
Issue number11
Pages (from-to)1834-1843
Number of pages10
ISSN1099-5129
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 22 Nov 2022
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

    Research areas

  • Humans, Atrial Fibrillation/diagnosis, Health Care Surveys, Practice Patterns, Physicians', Treatment Outcome, Surveys and Questionnaires

ID: 356550067