Semler Scientific, Inc. (NASDAQ:SMLR), a company that provides technology solutions to improve the clinical effectiveness and efficiency of healthcare providers (HCPs), today announced the publication of a study in the peer-reviewed Journal of Preventive Medicine with data supporting the use of QuantaFlo as an aid to measure hemodynamics related to heart dysfunction (HD). Notably, the study showed a statistically significant correlation (p<.01) between QuantaFlo HD and cardiac echocardiography (Echo), which was used as the gold standard for diagnosing heart failure.
The article, “Clinical Evaluation of Volume Plethysmography as an Aid for Diagnosis of Heart Failure in the Primary Care Setting,”1 which was co-authored by individuals affiliated with Semler Scientific, may be accessed through this link: https://preventive-medicine.imedpub.com/clinical-evaluation-of-volume-plethysmography-as-an-aid-for-diagnosis-of-heart-failure-in-the-primary-care-setting.pdf.
“Health care providers now have a point-of-care, low-cost, accurate means for detecting potential heart dysfunction in the primary care setting before overt signs or symptoms present,” said Doug Murphy-Chutorian, M.D., chief executive officer of Semler Scientific. “Early detection can lead to the opportunity to delay or prevent progression of the disease through well-established methods of preventive care.”
Semler’s QuantaFlo for HD is a portable, easy-to-operate non-invasive test, which takes less than five minutes to perform and can be administered by a healthcare professional in a clinic or home setting, providing immediate results. It may be sold as an SAAS upgrade for current QuantaFlo for PAD customers, or may be sold separately.
Echo and Heart Failure in the United States
- An estimated 6.2 million persons over age 20 have been diagnosed with heart failure.
- About one million new cases are diagnosed annually.
- Heart failure is a primary diagnosis in over one million hospitalizations annually.
- The total cost of heart failure care exceeds $30 billion annually.
- Mortality rates after hospitalization for heart failure are 31% within one year after diagnosis.
Heart disease may be “silent” and remain undiagnosed until a person experiences signs or symptoms of a myocardial infarction, heart failure or an arrhythmia. Multiple studies have shown that asymptomatic heart failure is much more common than symptomatic heart failure, but often unsuspected by the HCP. The most common way to diagnose heart failure is with Echo, requiring a referral to a cardiologist and a cardiovascular technician. In contrast, QuantaFlo HD may offer the ability to perform an inexpensive, early screening program for all patients at risk of heart failure, and to refer for Echo, as needed. The goal is to enable HCPs to more effectively encourage patients to adopt healthier lifestyles and to optimize proven guideline-directed medical therapies earlier, with the potential of improving long-term health outcomes.
