
Reducing repeat hospitalisations is an unmet need and of great importance to patients with heart failure (HF) and, given its economic impact, to society as a whole, since HF is one of the most debilitating, deadliest and costliest of diseases. Such reduced hospitalisations may be achieved by therapy optimisation aimed at maximising efficiency and safety of evidence-based but still under-prescribed and under-dosed life-saving drugs. Aims: To meet the challenge of improving clinical decisions in the management of post-acute HF patients, CARE-MOST HF network aims at assessing the effectiveness within the framework of a randomised clinical trial of an innovative integrative theranostic method combining: i) a non-implantable, minimally invasive (a single daily fingertip drop of blood) home monitoring point-of-care tool measuring relevant cardiorenal parameters, ii) remote-monitoring facilities embedded into a patient-centred disease management programme (i.e. a telemedicine loop including a local call-centre), iii) an algorithmic expert system providing decision-making support for a more dynamic management of the complex pharmacological treatment of HF.