Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the world, accounting for about 17 million deaths annually. Therefore, cardiovascular rehabilitation (CVR) becomes critical for prevention, with data showing a 20% decrease in mortality.
However, after completing hospital care, patients often lose enthusiasm and interest in pursuing self-care and improving their lifestyles. For that reason, the CUOREMA project aims to develop an innovative and personalized mobile health system, or mobile health, to increase adherence to post-hospital cardiovascular rehabilitation.
The CUOREMA application, currently the subject of an observational study at and (France), integrates data from wearable devices (with which patients can autonomously and automatically record their physiological parameters, activities, and workouts), and provides biobehavioral, motivational, and personalized feedback based on the profile and data collected.
This helps maintain steady progress and achieve CVR goals, including through interaction with virtual coaches who offer suggestions and advice based on Swiss and European rehabilitation guidelines. In addition, the app provides cardiologists with a more efficient and structured tool to monitor the health status and progress of patients to improve their quality of life and health.
鈥淚n this patient-centered project, the solution developed required strong multidisciplinarity and customization,鈥� explains Francesca Faraci, head of the Biomedical Signal Processing (BSP) group. 鈥淭he Innovation brought by our group focuses on developing a personalized and adaptive behavioral model based on artificial intelligence algorithms.鈥�
Several types of data are used as sources of information: data recorded with sensor t-shirts; questionnaires; and contextual information obtained via chatbot from smartphone usage. From all these data, statistical and causal modeling algorithms are able to create highly personalized behavioral profiles.
Radoslava 艩vihrov谩, Ph.D. student, points out that 鈥淥ver time, however, users' needs may change, requiring modifications and continuous adjustments to the model initially created. Significant changes and results are communicated to the user (biofeedback), explaining the (causal) relationships and impacts on their lifestyle鈥� .
The project, funded by the Eurostars program and the , involves the MeDiTech Institute in collaboration with several partners from academia, clinic, and industry: the Malcantonese Hospital, the companies (UK), (NL), (CH), and . (IT).