Mobile Health Technologies to Change Landscape of Cardiovascular Health
Technology, such as continuous glucose monitors, changes the way patients are treated, but more work needs to be done for racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities.
Mobile health technologies, such as fitness trackers, smartwatches, and mobile health apps, show potential to improve patients’ management of cardiovascular health. In the diabetes space, continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) changed the way patients are treated and how they take control of their own health.1,2
Technology, such as continuous glucose monitors, changes the way patients are treated, but more work needs to be done for racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities. | Image Credit: sitthiphong - stock.adobe.com
“There is data that shows how much it helps patients with diabetes to improve their quality of life, as well as the management of their diabetes,” Lindsey Miller, PharmD, clinical assistant professor of pharmacy practice at the University of Mississippi, said in an interview at the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Annual Meeting and Expo 2025.3 “No matter what practice setting you're in, you probably encounter some patients with diabetes, and so whether it be through recommending to providers to get them on CGM devices, just to help them be empowered to make decisions throughout their day when it comes to what they're eating and what they're doing.”
In another session at APhA, the presenters discussed CGMs being used for disease states beyond diabetes. Both presenters agreed that CGMs were best designed for patients with diabetes, and little evidence shows the benefits of CGMs in patients without diabetes.4 However, in an article published in the Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology, authors discuss the interest in monitoring glucose concentrates with CGMs for states unrelated to diabetes and predicted the use of CGMs is likely to increase.5
“Continuous glucose monitors may be beneficial for all patients, as long as we or someone else on their team is there to educate them about how to properly use it and properly use that data,” Heather Johnson, PharmD, BCACP, CTTS, assistant professor of clinical pharmacy and family medicine at West Virginia University, said in the presentation.4
In a new scientific statement published in Circulation,6 investigators discuss how mobile devices and interventions are primed to improve cardiovascular health, and they address barriers to making these technologies accessible to more people. The authors of the statement focus on digital solutions and their effects on the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Life’s Essential 8, including eating better, being more active, quitting tobacco, getting healthy sleep, managing weight, controlling cholesterol, managing blood sugar, and managing blood pressure.1
The investigators reported the effects of technology on physical activity, dietary intake, tobacco cessation, and sleep. For physical activity, activity trackers, text messages, and mobile apps focused on goal-setting and self-monitoring were effective for patients with higher socioeconomic status but not effective for those with lower socioeconomic status. Therefore, better interventions tailored to individuals in under-resourced communities are needed.1
As for dietary intake, technology has been shown to improve short-term dietary intake, weight loss, and cardiometabolic diseases, but there is little evidence on the long-term outcomes. Additionally, smoking cessation programs that combined technology with pharmacotherapy showed to be more effective than pharmacotherapy alone. Gamification approaches—such as text messaging, challenge quizzes, goal setting, and reward points—had greater results in 6-month abstinence. Furthermore, wearable devices and apps improve sleep across all sociodemographic groups; however, it is not equal in all racial and ethnic groups, as the devices rely on light absorption to measure heart rate and blood oxygen levels. The devices might not be able to measure some information accurately for darker skin tones.1
“Digital health technology holds great promise for supporting people with tools to improve their cardiovascular health,” Mariell Jessup, M.D., FAHA, chief science and medical officer of the AHA, said in a news release.1 “It is critical to identify and address barriers to access and develop health technologies that are scalable, effective, and affordable, ensuring that people receive the best possible care regardless of their location, socioeconomic status, or other involuntary factors.”
READ MORE: Cardiology Resource Center
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