PRESSURE – which stands for PeRsonal HypErtenSion and cardiovaScUlar CaRE – is a development project made possible with European funding under the OPZUID program. The project aims to improve and make patient care more affordable in the healthcare chain through the use of new medical wearables, AI, and smart deployment. The project will be carried out within a consortium consisting of innovative SMEs, Eindhoven University of Technology, and healthcare institutions.
The goal of the project is to achieve significant cost savings for cardiovascular patients who require intervention. Cost savings are possible through digitization and collaboration between the medical specialist and home care by:
1. Adequately preparing the patient for the intervention, particularly in terms of fitness, based on continuous observation of cardiological measurements.
2. Accurate post-operative monitoring, allowing for a calculated hospital discharge up to 2 days earlier than nominal.
3. Home monitoring linked to potential home treatment and medication dosage, as well as early detection of abnormalities. This can separate post-operative stress from medical complications and prevent unnecessary expensive emergency visits.
We will achieve this through the development and implementation of a non-invasive, continuous, and cuffless blood pressure reconstruction based on PhotoPlethysmoGraphy (PPG) for perioperative and rehabilitative (home) patients, particularly those recovering from or preparing for cardiovascular surgery. The central focus is on preventing or quickly detecting complications and accurately dosing medication for blood pressure regulation.
The solution will be integrated into two comfortable wearables: viQtor by smartQare and eCareBuddy by FreeSense. Both wearables meet high requirements in terms of medical reliability, certification, and suitability for cardiological care. Another goal is to increase accuracy and reliability by using dual-location wearables and eliminating interim (and uncomfortable) cuff-pump calibrations. Portability of both wearables and the application of AI play a central role in this.
The implementation of the system will be tested in collaboration with Catharina Hospital and Eurocept, focusing on the “Quadruple Aim.” This involves examining chain agreements, adhering to open standards and interoperability, as well as mapping out patient care paths and investigating value for both patients and healthcare workers.
The ultimate societal impact of continuous blood pressure monitoring is the prevention of (deterioration of) cardiovascular diseases, with AI predictions contributing to better prevention. The transition to this preventive, more cost-saving approach is already underway, but determining the effectiveness of implemented strategies takes time.
In addition to the application of continuous blood pressure monitoring in patients undergoing a cardiovascular operation, we see various other patient groups and treatment trajectories where continuous blood pressure measurement can significantly contribute to quality and efficiency in healthcare. In summary, this subsidy supports us and our consortium partners in the development of medical technology with potentially substantial added value for healthcare. We are proud and excited to be able to work on this, and we will provide periodic updates on the progress.
