1. Carbon emissions and air pollution savings among telehealth visits for cardiology appointments.
- Author
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Gunn AH, Murray EM, Patel MR, and Mentz RJ
- Abstract
Background: Climate change has been associated with adverse cardiovascular health, prompting interest in climate mitigation strategies while improving access for cardiovascular patients. We estimated greenhouse gas and air pollution savings from telehealth use in cardiology., Methods: Using cardiology telehealth visits at a large academic medical center from July 2020 to March 2024, carbon dioxide (CO
2 ), nitrogen oxides (NOx ), carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter (PM2.5 ) emissions saved were calculated using U.S. Environmental Protection Agency modeling software. Savings were converted into real-world comparators and differences were assessed by cardiology subspecialty and patient insurance status., Results: Over 45 months, 14,828 telehealth visits among 9942 patients resulted in savings of 484,152 kg of CO2 , 5225 kg of CO, 243,491 g of NOx , and 9091 g of PM2.5 with the total carbon saved equivalent to planting 9070 tree saplings over ten years. CO2 emissions saved per visit (kg) differed significantly by payor (Self-pay 24.99, Medicare 19.67, Medicaid 19.54, Private 17.85, Other 17.37, p = 0.004) and by subspecialty (Interventional 23.79, General 19.08, Heart Failure 18.86, Electrophysiology 17.81, Adult Congenital 16.59, p < 0.001)., Conclusions: Carbon emission and air pollution savings from telehealth in cardiology were substantial, with an estimated 19.06 kg of CO2 saved per visit and total savings over 45 months equivalent to planting over nine thousand trees., Competing Interests: The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Dr. Robert J. Mentz received research support and honoraria from 10.13039/100001316Abbott, American Regent, 10.13039/100002429Amgen, 10.13039/100004325AstraZeneca, 10.13039/100004326Bayer, 10.13039/100001003Boehringer Ingelheim, 10.13039/100008497Boston Scientific, 10.13039/100014941Cytokinetics, Fast BioMedical, 10.13039/100005564Gilead, Innolife, 10.13039/100004312Eli Lilly and Company, 10.13039/100004374Medtronic, Medable, 10.13039/100004334Merck, 10.13039/100004336Novartis, 10.13039/501100004191Novo Nordisk, Pharmacosmos, Relypsa, Respicardia, 10.13039/100004337Roche, 10.13039/100004339Sanofi, Vifor, Windtree Therapeutics, and 10.13039/100015345ZOLL. Dr. Manesh R. Patel received research support and honoraria from 10.13039/100004326Bayer, Janssen, 10.13039/100004336Novartis, Esperion, and Research Grants from NHBLI, Idorsia, and Heartflow., (© 2024 The Authors.)- Published
- 2024
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