Limitations of trials included small sample sizes , short duration of follow-up , self-reported outcomes , and insufficient assessment of unintended harms and financial implication s. Current evidence suggests that mHealth tools can improve medication adherence in patients with cardiovascular diseases .
Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide , and a key barrier to improved outcomes is medication non-adherence .
The aim of this study is to review the role of mobile health ( mHealth ) tools for improving medication adherence in patients with cardiovascular disease .
Improving adherence to cardiovascular disease medications with information technology.
OBJECTIVES Evaluate the utility of 2 electronic medical record (EMR)-linked , automated phone reminder interventions for improving adherence to cardiovascular disease medications . STUDY DESIGN A 1-year , parallel arm , pragmatic clinical trial in which 21,752 adults were r and omized to receive either usual care ( UC ) or 1 of 2 interventions in the form of interactive voice recognition calls-regular ( IVR ) or enhanced ( IVR+ ) . The interventions used automated phone reminders to increase adherence to cardiovascular disease medications . The primary outcome was medication adherence ; blood pressure and lipid levels were secondary outcomes . METHODS The study took place in 3 large health maintenance organizations . We enrolled participants who were 40 years or older , had diabetes mellitus or atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease , and were suboptimally adherent .  IVR participants received automated phone calls when they were due or overdue for a refill . IVR+ participants received these phone calls , plus personalized reminder letters , live outreach calls , EMR-based feedback to their primary care providers , and additional mailed material s. RESULTS Both interventions significantly increased adherence to statins and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers ( ACEIs/ARBs ) compared with UC ( 1.6 to 3.7 percentage points ) . Adherence to ACEIs/ARBs was also significantly higher for IVR+ relative to IVR participants . These differences persisted across subgroups . Among statin users , IVR+ participants had significantly lower low-density lipoprotein ( LDL ) levels at follow-up compared with UC ( Δ = -1.5 ; 95 % CI , -2.7 to -0.2 mg/dL ) ; this effect was seen mainly in those with baseline LDL levels ≥ 100 mg/dL ( Δ = -3.6 ; 95 % CI , -5.9 to -1.3 mg/dL ) . CONCLUSIONS Technology-based tools , in conjunction with an EMR , can improve adherence to chronic disease medications and measured cardiovascular disease risk factors
Limitations of trials included small sample sizes , short duration of follow-up , self-reported outcomes , and insufficient assessment of unintended harms and financial implication s. Current evidence suggests that mHealth tools can improve medication adherence in patients with cardiovascular diseases .
Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide , and a key barrier to improved outcomes is medication non-adherence .
The aim of this study is to review the role of mobile health ( mHealth ) tools for improving medication adherence in patients with cardiovascular disease .