Can Digital Health Solutions Fill in the Gap for Effective Guideline Implementation in Cardiovascular Disease Prevention: Hope or Hype?

Purpose of Review To evaluate the use of digital health solutions in improving the implementation of cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention guidelines and review current evidence supporting it. Recent Findings Healthy diet guideline recommendations can be improved by text-messaging programs and apps for reinforcing healthy food intake and reducing unhealthy nutrients purchase and consumption. Wearable activity trackers are also effective in increasing physical activity levels. Text-messaging programs for smoking cessation have demonstrated benefits in increasing quitting rates; however, evidence on smartphone apps for smoking cessation is still lacking. Smartphone apps have the potential to improve medication adherence; however, better quality evidence is needed. Digital pills are another promising digital solution to improve medication adherence. The use of digital health solutions in CVD prevention is an evolving field and, to date, there is an increasing body of evidence that supports that such technologies are effective in improving CVD prevention guideline implementation.

Automated summary

This review examines the utilization of digital health solutions to enhance the implementation of cardiovascular disease prevention guidelines and reviews the current evidence supporting their efficacy.