Effectiveness of Telemedicine for Reducing Cardiovascular Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally. There are six cardiovascular risk factors: diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, overweight, sedentary lifestyle and smoking. Due to the low attendance of healthy people in the health system, the use of telemedicine can influence the acquisition of a heart-healthy lifestyle. Objective: this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the effectiveness of telemedicine and e-health in reducing cardiovascular risk. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were carried out using the PubMed, Scopus, Cinhal and WOS databases. Randomized controlled studies between 2017 and 2022 in which telemedicine was used to reduce any of the risk factors were included. The methodological quality was assessed using the “PEDro” scale. Results: In total, 763 studies were obtained; after the review, 28 target articles were selected and finally grouped as follows: 13 studies on diabetes, six on hypertension, seven on obesity and two on physical activity. For all of the risk factors, a small effect of the intervention was seen. Conclusions: although the current evidence is heterogeneous regarding the statistically significant effects of telemedicine on various cardiovascular risk factors, its clinical relevance is undeniable; therefore, its use is recommended as long as the necessary infrastructure exists.