Beyond the Patient: taking care of the dyad with the Caregiver for Optimal Management of Chronic Disease

How can telemedicine interventions help improve care for patients with heart failure and their caregivers? 

Currently, it is estimated that more than 64 million people worldwide are affected by heart failure, a number that continues to grow. This increase is linked both to the aging population and to advances in disease management, which, however, are making the condition increasingly complex. As a result, individuals living with heart failure require daily support from a key figure: the caregiver. This role can be fulfilled by a partner, a child, a relative or someone close to the patient. 

The link between patient and caregiver is so close that they become a single unit of analysis, defined as ''dyad'': any significant change - social, economic of health - that affects one of the two members inevitably ah an impact on the other. International guidelines have long emphasized the importance of a dyadic approach in the management of heart failure, a principle that also applies to telemedicine interventions. 

In recent years, telemedicine has taken on an increasingly important role, proving to be a valuable ally in providing care and supporting caregivers, even in the context of heart failure. With the rapid development of new devices, delivery methods and field of application, it is essential to take stock of where we are and what scenarios lie ahead. 

Within the Research Module 1 of the TINCARE flagship projects, Dr. Cristian Vairo and Dr. Ines Basso, under the supervision of Prof. Alberto Dal Molin, are conducting an in-depth study on the role of remote interventions in supporting the patient-caregiver with heart failure. The aim is to understand how telemedicine can improve disease management, optimise care and reduce caregiver burden.