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Review
. 2022 May 28;14(1):76.
doi: 10.1186/s13098-022-00846-5.

The effectiveness of the use of telehealth programs in the care of individuals with hypertension and, or diabetes mellitus: systematic review and meta-analysis

Daniel Souza Santos  1 , Clara Regina Santos Batistelli  2 , Marina Marilac Dos Santos Lara  3 , Emily de Souza Ferreira  2 , Tiago Ricardo Moreira  3 , Rosângela Minardi Mitre Cotta  2
Affiliations
Review

The effectiveness of the use of telehealth programs in the care of individuals with hypertension and, or diabetes mellitus: systematic review and meta-analysis

Daniel Souza Santos et al. Diabetol Metab Syndr. .

Abstract

Introduction: Diabetes Mellitus and Hypertension are some of the main Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases, representing a big challenge for global health. In this context, Telehealth programs are presented as a tool with exciting potential to complement and support health care. This paper aimed to analyze the effectiveness of the use of Telehealth programs in the care of individuals with Hypertension and/or Diabetes Mellitus.

Methods: A systematic review with meta-analysis was carried out according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol methodology. The following databases were used: PubMed, EMBASE, SciELO, ScienceDirect and Cochrane Library. Papers were included if they addressed the use of technologies that allow two-way communication at a distance between health professionals and patients affected by Hypertension and/or Diabetes Mellitus, type 1 or type 2. Experimental, cross-sectional, case-control, cohort, and clinical trials were included in the review.

Results: We included 164 papers in the review and 45 in the meta-analysis final synthesis. The systematic review results showed a prevalence of telemonitoring as the main form of Telehealth. The study showed a reduction in expenses with the use of Telehealth, both for the users and for the health systems providers, followed by greater satisfaction. Our meta-analysis showed that Telehealth is an effective tool in the care of diabetic patients, providing a 0.353% reduction in HbA1c compared to traditional care. No studies on Hypertension that met our eligibility criteria for inclusion in the meta-analysis were found.

Conclusions: Telehealth is an effective tool for the care of people with Diabetes Mellitus and/or Hypertension.

Keywords: Diabetes mellitus; Hypertension; Meta-analysis; Systematic review; Telehealth.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflicting interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flowchart of bibliographic research and selection of studies for systematic review
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Meta-analysis. *statistically significant results, WMD weighted mean differences, Weights are from random effects analysis, Heterogeneity chi-squared = 358.87 (d.f. = 53) p = 0.000, I-squared (variation in WMD attributable to heterogeneity) =  85.2%
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Graph of Funnel. WMD weighted mean differences, Funnel plot with 95% confidence limits
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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