Wearable computing for patients with coronary diseases

Cardiovascular diseases are killing more and more people around the world, striking rich and poor alike. The World Health Organization identifies these diseases as challenges to population health and well being and calls it a global epidemic. These diseases can seriously affect the life of both the patient and family. In tandem with a strategy to provide information and education to individuals at risk, Information and Communication Technologies can be a valuable tool to address the challenges posed by this global epidemic.

I. Introduction

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) cause the death of around 4.500.000 people per year in Europe, being the first cause of deaths. The challenge of the HEARTRONIC project is to provide a real solution for continuous monitoring and real time prevention, by means of early warning, to people already diagnosed as patients with high risk. The evolution of cardiovascular condition of these patients should be taken under close and real time control but currently this is not possible: the only option to monitor patients 24 hours a day is by hospitalization, which accounts for high costs and poses serious limitations to the patients' quality of life.