Table 1.

Summary of results.

Title	Findings
Siebert et al.4	• ‘Telemedicine led to a reduction in physician and emergency department visits and significant improvement in control of chronic heart failure facilitating self-management for chronic heart failure patients’
Straub et al.6	• Increased quality of life • Substantial reduction in the frequency of repeated hospitalisations • Better self-management of disease by patients • Significant reduction in hospital costs • Reduction in length of hospital stays
Biermann et al.7	• ‘Recent studies have shown clear clinical and economic benefits of Telemedicine solutions that focus on the patient and integrated care’ • To fulfill the growth promises further, attention is needed in areas of telemetric, medical information, and IT telematics infrastructure
van Montfort et al.8	• Use of Telemedicine technology in managing heart failure promotes a healthier lifestyle and enhances quality of life
Cleland et al.9	• ‘Duration of admissions was found to be significantly shorter with Telemedicine technology’ • Decrease in number of office visits • Cost-effective • Significant reduction in hospitalisations and mortality rates when compared with usual care
Bashshur et al.10	• ‘Reduced length and number of hospital stays and readmissions, optimised medical therapy and better quality of life’ • Improved health outcomes • Significant reduction in mortality • Substantial savings in travel costs • Significantly lower outpatient and emergency visits • Fewer episodes of health worsening
Conway et al.11	• ‘Non-invasive remote monitoring of heart failure with the use of Telemedicine technology was found to be effective in reducing the risk of all-cause mortality and heart failure-related hospitalisations and in improving health outcomes’
Wootton et al.12	• ‘Majority of studies conducted have reported positive effects concerning outcomes. However, the evidence base for the value of Telemedicine in managing chronic diseases was reported to be weak and contradictory’
Seto et al.13	• The results show an ‘evidence of improved quality of life through improved self-care and clinical management of disease with the aid of mobile phone-based telemonitoring system. However, no differences were found between intervention group and control group in terms of hospitalisations, mortality, and emergency department visits’
Kotb et al.14	• ‘Telemedicine interventions that involved the use of electrocardiographic data transmission were significantly effective in reducing mortality rates and hospitalisations related to heart failure when compared with usual care’
Koehler et al.15	• Several studies on impact of Telemedical care in chronic heart failure patients have reported reduction in ○ Healthcare costs ○ Hospitalisations ○ Mortality • Also, improvements in quality of life have been reported.
Backman et al.16	• Electrocardiographic recordings via telephonic transmission of Telemedicine technology resulted in reduced hospitalisations, re-admission rates, time, and costs
Brignell et al.17	• Results showed considerable levels of patient satisfaction when measured using remote Telemedicine technology
Domingo et al.18	• Results showed that with ‘frequent monitoring and patient management using a Telemedicine system, hospitalisations, length of hospital stay, and emergency department visits were reduced’
Klersy et al.19	• A meta-analysis by the authors demonstrated that Telehealth programs resulted in substantial decrease in mortality, hospitalisation, and chronic heart failure-related length stay
Kenealy et al.20	• Results unveiled improvement in health outcomes, quality of life, decreased anxiety and depression levels, decreased mortality, and improved self-management
Salisbury et al.21	• ‘Improved health, access to care, self-management, patient experience, and cost-effective care were the intended outcomes that were achieved through TElehealth in CHronic disease conceptual model’ • Secondary outcomes were health-related quality of life, measures of access, and patient satisfaction
Seto et al.22	• The study reported that Telemedicine technology which included monitoring from a remote area resulted in improved self-care by the patients
Koehler et al.23	• Few meta-analyses suggest a significant reduction in morbidity and mortality in patients with heart failure. However, the effectiveness of Telemedicine has not been clearly established and requires an adequate research
Black et al.24	• The study unveils that ‘completion of Better Effectiveness After Transition-Heart Failure is meant to serve an important research source in understanding the use of Telehealth in improving health outcomes and hospital readmissions in heart failure patients’