Injectable Heart Health Tracker Now Picks Up COVID Red Flags

The statistics are a real eye-opener: in the United States, one person dies every 36 seconds from cardiovascular disease. Technologies to monitor heart health in real-time have life-saving potential, particularly that in the event of a heart attack, every second counts. 

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, an FDA-approved injectable cardiac monitor has received a much-needed upgrade—a temperature sensor that can alert physicians to the early signs of a possible infection.

“The patient is at high risk for infection during this global pandemic due to underlying conditions,” said Luigi Di Biase, section head of Electrophysiology, Director of Arrhythmia Services at Montefiore Health System, at BIOTRONIK, the company behind the new tech.

“It is comforting for me and my patients knowing that we will be able to monitor for early signs of potential life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias and infections for up to 5.5 years. Coupled with the workflow advantages, this device is a step forward for injectable cardiac monitors.”

With the BIOMONITOR, cardiologists will be able to access daily reports on the vitals of their patients, which includes information on their body temperatures and cardiac arrhythmias. In these vulnerable patients, fevers have been linked to an increased risk of a cardiovascular event. Moreover, these patients are particularly susceptible to experiencing severe COVID-19 symptoms, making careful monitoring for the early stages of infection critical. By being able to transmit their health data completely remotely, they can also avoid unnecessary in-person visits to the hospital.

Vital data trends help support the diagnosis for a range of illnesses and, given the additional impact of the current pandemic on cardiac health, we have worked with urgency to advance BIOMONITOR IIIm’s unique sensor technology, said David Hayes, Chief Medical Officer of BIOTRONIK Inc. 

“Patients with cardiac conditions are at an increased risk for worse outcomes from many systemic illnesses, so closer monitoring of these patients may help manage potential symptoms associated with a febrile response, particularly if it can be done safely and remotely.”

Source: BIOTRONIK.