700 Section - Establishment of a Telemonitoring System and the Significance and Potential of Telerehabilitation for Cardiovascular Patients in Developing Countries

In collaboration with Japan International Cooperation Agency and local stakeholders in Bangladesh, we are developing a program for follow-up and prevention of cardiovascular disease. While telerehabilitation has gained global attention, Bangladesh faces rising cardiovascular risk due to lifestyle changes alongside limited medical resources. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using advanced wearable devices as an alternative to 12 lead electrocardiography for screening in non-urban areas and implementing telerehabilitation.

Design:

Initially, post- Percutaneous Coronary Intervention patients were monitored during hospitalization to compare electrocardiography data from the wearable device (V2–V4 leads) with standard 12 lead electrocardiography, assessing concordance. Based on this evidence, post discharge patients underwent home based monitoring using the device to support health management and lifestyle interventions. Given the limited access to healthcare in rural regions, regular remote consultations with urban based physicians were integrated to prevent clinical deterioration.

Results:

The wearable device showed a high concordance with standard 12 lead electrocardiography, with cross-correlation coefficients exceeding 0.98, demonstrating reliable accuracy. Additionally, a practical telerehabilitation protocol suitable for remote implementation was developed. A teleconsultation system was successfully established, allowing data sharing between rural patients and urban physicians, ensuring continuous care despite geographic barriers.

Conclusion:

Telerehabilitation and Telemonitoring is gaining attention due to advances in medical device technology. However, the key is not the device itself but how it is safely and effectively utilized to benefit patients. While face-to-face care remains ideal, providing advanced devices to regions with limited medical access can improve healthcare quality in non urban areas. Delivering such technology supported care constitutes a meaningful contribution to international health cooperation.