mHealth Interventions Improve Treatment Adherence Among CVD Patients

A woman shows an older man how to use a tablet computer.The Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) recommends mobile health (mHealth) interventions to improve treatment adherence among patients recently diagnosed with cardiovascular disease. These interventions use mobile devices, such as smart phones and tablets, to deliver self-management guidance to patients, and evidence shows they improve medication adherence, outpatient follow-up, and adherence to self-management goals.

A team of specialists in systematic review methods and in cardiovascular disease management research, practice, and policy selected and evaluated the following published review:

Gandhi S, Chen S, Hong L, Sun K, Gong E, Li C, et al. Effect of mobile health interventions on the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease: systematic review and meta-analysis. Canadian Journal of Cardiology 2017; 33:219-31.

The CPSTF finding is based on results from the published review, additional information from a subset of studies that were conducted in high-income countries, and expert input from team members and the CPSTF.

Only 51 percent of Americans treated for hypertension follow their health care professional’s advice when it comes to their long-term medication therapy (Ho PM, et.al, 2009). Every year, direct and overall costs resulting from cardiovascular disease are estimated at $273 billion and $444 billion. Strategies to reduce high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking can reduce the cardiovascular disease burden (CDC Million Hearts, 2011).

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