New Technologies for the Management and Rehabilitation of Chronic Diseases and Conditions

he economic burden of chronic diseases and conditions (such as cardiovascular pathologies, diabetes, obesity, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic pain, and traumatic brain injuries) requires new solutions not only in traditional clinical settings (in-patient treatments), but also in innovative healthcare scenarios (out-patient long-term monitoring). New technologies can provide clinicians and patients with many solutions at different levels: diagnostic and monitoring, early risk detection, treatment and rehabilitation, provision of feedback and alerts, and motivational strategies that facilitate changes in dysfunctional behaviors or maintenance of healthy lifestyles. A health technology assessment approach is necessary in order to collect evidence to evaluate the clinical and cost effectiveness of new tools and to strengthen the political choice to use health technologies in clinical fields