2026 Southeastern Residency Conference

Title: Utility of ZOLL Heart Failure Management System (HFMS) in the management of chronic heart failure 

Authors: Emily Rudisell, Laura Jane Straw, James Ampadu, Melissa Redmond, Joseph Bates, Lauren Lyons   

Background: Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) remains a burdensome disease in which patients experience progressive neurohormonal activation leading to worsening symptoms, fluid retention, and recurrent exacerbations. Guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT), as recommended by the 2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA Heart Failure Guidelines, has been shown to significantly reduce morbidity and mortality in these patients; however, timely medication titration remains challenging. Non-invasive remote monitoring offers the opportunity to detect changes in fluid status earlier, allowing expedited interventions and potentially supporting optimization of GDMT. The ZOLL Heart Failure Monitoring System (HFMS) is a first-in-class non-invasive wearable patch-based device that utilizes a transdermal radiofrequency sensor to monitor pulmonary fluid levels. This system generates alerts when predefined fluid thresholds are exceeded, prompting clinical evaluation and treatment. Despite increasing clinical use, real-world data describing HFMS and its role in supporting GDMT optimization remain limited. This study aims to characterize the impact of outpatient HFMS utilization and to evaluate its potential to decrease time to GDMT optimization and reduce HF-related morbidity and readmissions. 

Methods: This single-center, retrospective cohort study included adult patients with HFrEF who were prescribed HFMS by an advanced heart failure provider. The primary endpoint was time to GDMT optimization following HFMS initiation, defined as the number of days to achieve maximally tolerated dose of GDMT, compared with patients who were prescribed HFMS but were unable to receive it due to insurance denial. Secondary endpoints included HF related readmission rates at 30 and 90 days after HFMS use discontinuation, comparison of HF readmission rates 6 months before and after HFMS utilization, frequency of thoracic fluid index alerts, and the presence of clinical interventions in response to alerts. Data was collected from the electronic health record and HFMS monitoring system. Primary outcomes were analyzed using generalized estimating equations and descriptive analyses. Secondary outcomes were interpreted using a McNemar test, Wilcoxon signed ranked test with Hodges-Lehmann estimator, and descriptive analyses.  

Results: In progress.  

Conclusions: In progress.