The CardioMEMS Heart Failure System for chronic heart failure - a European perspective

Introduction: Chronic heart failure (HF) is characterized by high hospital admission rates. The CardioMEMS(TM) HF System is a pulmonary artery pressure sensor developed for remote hemodynamic monitoring to reduce HF hospitalizations. The device is FDA approved and CE marked, but clinical evidence for the CardioMEMS system is mainly based upon U.S. studies. Because of structural differences in HF care between the U.S. and Europe, it is important to study CardioMEMS efficacy in European setting on top of usual HF care and contemporary therapy. Several observational studies have been performed in Europe, but there is an unmet need for randomized clinical trials. Areas covered: This review focuses on safety and efficacy data for CardioMEMS remote hemodynamic monitoring in European HF setting, and discusses important upcoming studies. Expert opinion: For safety, data from European studies are in line with U.S. studies. Efficacy with regard to reduction of HF hospitalizations seems promising, but is merely based upon observational studies comparing pre- and post-implantation event rates. The first European randomized clinical trial (MONITOR HF) will provide efficacy data compared to actual standard care in a high-quality healthcare system with contemporary HF treatment and will provide important generalizable information to other European countries.