Dear Colleagues,

The term telemedicine commonly refers to the use of medical information exchanged from one site to another via electronic communication. The purpose of telemedicine is to deliver care and healthcare services remotely, thereby improving the clinical health status of patients. Telemedicine includes a growing range of applications and services. Several telemedicine applications have recently been developed and successfully implemented to manage cardiovascular diseases. Telemedicine can be used for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease, and especially for the management of acute coronary syndrome, myocardial infarction, heart failure, and hypertension. Telemedicine has proven effective for both primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease (e.g. in the post-discharge follow-up of patients with chronic heart disease through home services). Other useful applications of telemedicine are for the detection and monitoring of cardiac arrhythmias (atrial fibrillation, remote monitoring by implantable devices), surveillance of anticoagulants, and cardiac rehabilitation after a cardiac event. Thanks to telemonitoring and tele-imaging, telemedicine is also potentially useful for the diagnosis of congenital heart disease in pediatric patients. Finally, tele-robotics and telesurgery have been used for mitral valve repair and myocardial revascularization. The aim of this special issue is to showcase the most recent research on telemedicine applications in cardiology, as well as their effectiveness in managing cardiovascular diseases.

Prof. Stefano Omboni
Guest Editor