The mobile revolution--using smartphone apps to prevent cardiovascular disease

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the primary global cause of death and illness.
• Mobile health (mHealth) applications offer potential to improve CVD prevention and management, especially for underserved populations.
• The proliferation of unregulated health apps necessitates evaluation of their evidence base and efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current literature on mobile technology for CVD prevention and management.
• To assess the content and evidence base of existing CVD-related mobile applications.
• To identify app components that promote behavior change and adherence to medical advice.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of existing literature on mobile technology and CVD.
• Content analysis of mobile applications targeting CVD risk factors and behavior change.
• Evaluation of app utility across diverse age groups and CVD prevention needs.

Main Results:

• Mobile applications may enhance access to cardiac rehabilitation and CVD prevention strategies.
• Significant gaps exist in the evidence base and adherence to guidelines for many health apps.
• Key app features for facilitating behavior change and adherence require further investigation.

Conclusions:

• Mobile technology holds potential for improving cardiovascular health outcomes.
• Rigorous evaluation of mHealth apps is crucial to ensure safety, efficacy, and evidence-based design.
• Further research should focus on developing and validating apps that promote sustained behavior change in individuals with or at risk for CVD.