A pioneering heart failure treatment combining a wearable mini-pump and innovative medication can allow patients to leave hospital significantly earlier and safely continue treatment at home, according to results from a major UK clinical trial, led by the University of Glasgow.
Findings from the landmark SUBCUT HF II trial were presented at the annual European Society of Cardiology Heart Failure Congress 2026 in Barcelona, on May 9, 2026, demonstrating that patients treated using the new device were discharged approximately five days earlier than those receiving standard hospital care.
With cardiovascular disease responsible for nearly one-third of deaths in India and heart failure admissions placing significant pressure on hospitals, this research opens treatment pathways that could be particularly impactful in countries managing large patient populations.
Heart failure, a condition in which the heart cannot pump blood efficiently, represents a growing global health challenge and is a leading cause of repeated hospital admissions worldwide.
The multicentre randomised controlled trial recruited 172 patients across 20 hospitals in the UK. Participants received a skin-friendly formulation of furosemide delivered through a small wearable mini-pump, similar to device used in diabetes management, that administers medication under the skin. After initial monitoring in hospital, patients (or their family members) were able to complete treatment safely at home.
The study found that those on the device arm of the trial were no more likely to become unwell after treatment and showed similar recoveries to patients who received standard care. Researchers also reported strong patient acceptance of the treatment, with participants finding the device easy to use during home-based therapy.
Traditionally, patients experiencing fluid overload require intravenous diuretics administered in hospital for around 9–10 days, contributing significantly to hospital bed occupancy.
The new treatment is intended for patients admitted to hospital with worsening heart failure caused by fluid overload who would normally require intravenous diuretics. After initial stabilisation and training in hospital, suitable patients can be discharged early and continue receiving diuretic therapy at home using the wearable pump.
In the UK itself, heart failure accounts for 1 million annual NHS inpatient bed days and researchers believe home-based treatment models could help reduce hospital congestion globally.
Led by Dr Ross Campbell, Clinical Senior Lecturer at the University of Glasgow, said:
“This study has shown that we can successfully and safely manage patients with heart failure in their own home, and moreover, that patients are able to administer treatment themselves. This represents an entirely new treatment pathway for the management of patients with heart failure, one that patients have been requesting for decades, but that we have been unable to deliver until now. "
“The study was delivered by a key partnership between the NHS and the University of Glasgow alongside industry and has shown how effective this new treatment can be for heart failure in a real-world clinical setting.”
Professor Mark Patrie, Professor of Cardiology at the University of Glasgow and co-lead author of the study, added: “The results of SUBCUT HF II demonstrate a leap forward in our ability to treat patients with heart failure in a way that benefits them and the NHS. The study demonstrates how safe and effective this treatment method can be, as well as how simple the device and drug combination were for patients at home.”
Retired railway traffic coordinator Stephen Allan, 65, from Clarkston near Glasgow, one of the patients asked to trial the treatment, said: “After being asked to be part of the trial, they showed me how to use the device myself and make it work – I found it easy to use and had no problems.
“The greatest thing about it is the new treatment method gave me the freedom to get home to family and be more comfortable. Using the device also means that you are not taking up a bed in hospital, which feels like a good thing. Overall the treatment worked really well.”
Researchers believe the innovation could support future models of remote and home-based cardiac care, an area gaining rapid attention across healthcare systems in the world, including India.