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Review
. 2022 Dec 20;146(25):e558-e568.
doi: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000001107. Epub 2022 Nov 14.

An Overview of Telehealth in the Management of Cardiovascular Disease: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

Edwin A Takahashi, Lee H Schwamm, Opeolu M Adeoye, Olamide Alabi, Eiman Jahangir, Sanjay Misra, Carolyn H Still; American Heart Association Council on Cardiovascular Radiology and Intervention, Council on Hypertension, Council on the Kidney in Cardiovascular Disease, and Stroke Council
Review

An Overview of Telehealth in the Management of Cardiovascular Disease: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

Edwin A Takahashi et al. Circulation. .

Abstract

Telehealth enables the remote delivery of health care through telecommunication technologies and has substantially affected the evolving medical landscape. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the utilization of telehealth as health care professionals were forced to limit face-to-face in-person visits. It has been shown that information delivery, diagnosis, disease monitoring, and follow-up care can be conducted remotely, resulting in considerable changes specific to cardiovascular disease management. Despite increasing telehealth utilization, several factors such as technological infrastructure, reimbursement, and limited patient digital literacy can hinder the adoption of remote care. This scientific statement reviews definitions pertinent to telehealth discussions, summarizes the effect of telehealth utilization on cardiovascular and peripheral vascular disease care, and identifies obstacles to the adoption of telehealth that need to be addressed to improve health care accessibility and equity.

Keywords: AHA Scientific Statements; cardiovascular diseases; health services accessibility; telemedicine.

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Conflict of interest statement

The American Heart Association makes every effort to avoid any actual or potential conflicts of interest that may arise as a result of an outside relationship or a personal, professional, or business interest of a member of the writing panel. Specifically, all members of the writing group are required to complete and submit a Disclosure Questionnaire showing all such relationships that might be perceived as real or potential conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Taxonomy of telehealth encounters.
AI indicates artificial intelligence; ED, emergency department; ICU, intensive care unit; IRF, inpatient rehabilitation facility; PCP, primary care physician; and SNF, skilled nursing facility.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Telehealth tools for cardiovascular home monitoring.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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