Self-care interventions using mobile applications in heart failure management

Digital therapeutics using mobile technology offer potential advantages for facilitating patient-centered care. Driven by an increasing demand for digital health in the care of individuals with heart failure (HF), numerous mobile health applications (mHealth apps) have been developed to enhance self-care behaviors in patients with chronic HF. The key functional elements of HF apps include self-monitoring support, medication tracking and reminders, lifestyle modification guidance, sensor device connectivity and data transmission, educational materials, automated health status checks with alerts for potential HF exacerbation, and motivational support and feedback. Several randomized clinical trials (RCTs) have evaluated the efficacy and feasibility of self-care interventions for patients with chronic HF that use smartphone- or tablet-based apps designed as standalone or near-standalone systems. Although it has been observed that mHealth apps can improve patients' self-care behaviors, the evidence regarding the apps' impact on hard clinical endpoints (e.g. mortality and hospitalization) remains limited and inconsistent. The results of RCTs have demonstrated potential benefits, but it remains essential to address barriers to mHealth app adoption among both patients and healthcare professionals in order to successfully implement such apps into routine clinical practice. This narrative review examines mobile app-based self-care interventions and evaluates the evidence concerning their efficacy and feasibility in chronic HF patient populations.