MEDICAL SERVICES & DEVICES
Abbott has built a significant connected-care portfolio around RPM, particularly in cardiovascular disease and glucose monitoring. Its flagship CardioMEMS System is perhaps its most distinctive RPM technology: a paperclip-sized sensor implanted in the pulmonary artery measures pressure and wirelessly transmits readings to a patient’ s clinical team. The data from the CardioMEMS System can provide an early indication that heart failure is worsening, allowing clinicians to adjust treatment before symptoms become more severe. Highlighting how connected technologies are shifting heart failure management beyond the hospital, Finn Gustafsson, Chief Medical Officer and Divisional Vice
President of Abbott’ s Heart Failure business, says Cardio MEMS enables patients to“ proactively manage their condition outside of the doctor’ s office”.
Abbott says the technology has been shown to reduce hospitalisations, while a metaanalysis of three randomised controlled trials involving 1,350 patients found remote pressure monitoring was associated with a 25 % reduction in mortality risk over two years. The company’ s RPM strategy extends beyond cardiology. Abbott’ s FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitoring ecosystem allows patients to collect glucose data and, in selected markets, share it with healthcare professionals through LibreView.
Finn Gustafsson Chief Medical
Officer and Divisional Vice President
Abbott’ s Heart Failure business