Exactly two decades have elapsed since pacemakers first provided automatic remote monitoring. This innovation has been well received by patients. However, there is still a widely held perception that remote monitoring of pacemakers is non-essential, despite the very similar gains that are achieved compared with remote monitoring of implantable cardioverter defibrillators. Reducing in-office evaluations and overall staff workload is important when these resources are stretched to their limits. The early detection ability provided by remote monitoring facilitates device management (extending battery longevity) and the ability to exercise vigilance over recalled components. Clinical complications, such as arrhythmic events, are also detected earlier. Remote monitoring has been shown to produce similar reductions in the risk of all-cause hospitalization and death for pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators in a mega-cohort observational study. This review is an evidence-based plea for the recognition and systematic implementation of remote monitoring for pacemakers.

自起搏器首次提供自动远程监测以来，整整已经过去了 20 年。这一创新得到了患者的好评。然而，尽管与植入式心律转复除颤器的远程监测相比取得了非常相似的收益，但人们仍然普遍认为远程监测起搏器是不必要的。当这些资源达到极限时，减少办公室内的评估和整体工作人员的工作量很重要。远程监控提供的早期检测能力有助于设备管理（延长电池寿命）和对召回组件保持警惕的能力。临床并发症，例如心律失常事件，也能较早发现。在一项大型队列观察性研究中，远程监测已显示出类似的降低心脏起搏器和植入式心律转复除颤器全因住院和死亡风险的作用。这篇综述是对承认和系统实施起搏器远程监测的循证呼吁。