A Systematic Review of mHealth-Based Heart Failure Interventions

Abstract

Background The popularity of mobile phones and similar mobile devices makes it an ideal medium for delivering interventions. This is especially true with heart failure (HF) interventions, in which mHealth-based HF interventions are rapidly replacing their telephone-based predecessors. Purpose This systematic review examined the impact of mHealth-based HF management interventions on HF outcomes. The specific aims of the systematic review are to: (1) describe current mHealth-based HF interventions and (2) discuss the impact of these interventions on HF outcomes. Methods PubMed, CINAHL Plus, Embase, PsycINFO, and Scopus were systematically searched for randomized controlled trials or quasi-experimental studies that tested mHealth interventions in people with HF using the terms Heart Failure, Mobile Health, mHealth, Telemedicine, Text Messaging, Texting, Short Message Service, Mobile Applications, and Mobile Apps. Conclusions Ten articles, representing nine studies, were included in this review. Majority of the studies utilized mobile health technology as part of a HF monitoring system, which typically included a blood pressure measuring device, weighing scale, and an ECG recorder. The impact of the mHealth interventions on all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, HF-related hospitalizations, length of stay, NYHA functional class, LVEF, quality of life, and self-care were inconsistent at best. Implications Further research is needed to conclusively determine the impact of mHealth interventions on HF outcomes. The limitations of the current studies (e.g. inadequate sample size, quasi-experimental design, use of older mobile phone models, etc.) should be taken into account when designing future studies.

Mobile Phone Interventions for the Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease

“…28,30,33–35 Our findings are consistent with other reviews that reported overall positive potential for mHealth technology to improve various behaviors and clinical outcomes in different populations. 17,46–50 Compared to others, our paper provided an updated search of focused text messaging and mobile apps interventions with clinical outcomes related to the secondary prevention of CVD. In addition, our study confirms that despite the study population of CVD patients being older, a strong majority of the studies had positive clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction.…”

Intention to Use mHealth in Older Adults With Heart Failure

“…In HF studies, mHealth-based interventions have used mobile devices as part of a larger monitoring system, usually in conjunction with a blood pressure measuring device and a weighing scale. 5–7 Mobile devices have also been used to deliver HF-related educational messages. 8,9 mHealth-based interventions have been associated with improved HF self-management, 8,9 improved quality of life, 8,10 and lower mortality.…”

Real Time Telemedical Health Care Systems with Wearable Sensors

“…Over the decade, they have shared the same goal, worked mostly with the same set of basic vital signs and physiological parameters, however there is still a lot more to be covered to create the perfect system 8 . The ability to detect and alert patients about ailments would result in a decrease in sudden death and outbreaks experienced around the globe, both in developing and developed nations where medical care is either too expensive or inaccessible at patients' current location 2 .…”

“…Table 1 provides a tabular summary of our findings for telemedical health care services as related to cardiovascular health and wearable devices in recent times. Other such review out of our year of study could be found in some of the works referenced [8][9][10]16 . No autonomous SOS algorithm only during excess precipitation (cold sweat) and manual button press, No additional functionality.…”