title: Mobile Health (mHealth) Technology for the Management of Hypertension and Hyperlipidemia: Slow Start but Loads of Potential.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hypertension and hyperlipidemia represent two major risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Mobile health or mHealth is defined as the use of mobile phone and wireless technologies to support the achievement of health objectives. Management of hypertension, and to some extent hyperlipidemia, has often employed mHealth interventions given lower cost and greater patient engagement compared to traditional methods. These interventions include the use of text messaging, wireless devices, and mobile phone applications. This review considers recent studies evaluating the effectiveness of mHealth interventions in the management of hypertension and hyperlipidemia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Numerous studies have evaluated the role of mHealth interventions in the management of hypertension, while very few have evaluated their role in hyperlipidemia. Text messaging has been used most frequently. However, the trend is shifting towards the use of mobile phone applications and wireless devices. Interventions in developing countries have been modified for greater applicability to local settings. mHealth interventions were found to be frequently effective. However, studies comparing the relative efficacy of various mHealth strategies are scarce. Long-term cardiovascular outcomes data and analyses relating to cost effectiveness are also lacking. mHealth interventions may be effective in improving hypertension management. More studies are needed to evaluate the role of mHealth strategies in hyperlipidemia management, particularly in identifying high-risk individuals and improving medication adherence. Studies assessing the long-term impact of these interventions, comparing different interventions and analyzing their relative cost effectiveness, are also needed. Following recently published guidelines on reporting results of mHealth interventions will provide a more meaningful context for interpreting these promising early studies.
authors.affiliation: Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rehman
authors.affiliation: The Aga Khan University Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Ayeesha K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Kamal
authors.affiliation: Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
authors.forename: Pamela B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.affiliation: Aga Khan Development Network eHealth Resource Centre for Asia and Africa, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Saleem
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sayani
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA.|WJB Dorn VA Medical Center, Columbia, SC, USA.
authors.forename: Anwar T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Merchant
authors.affiliation: Section of Cardiology, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA. virani@bcm.edu.|Section of Cardiovascular Research, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA. virani@bcm.edu.|Health Services Research and Development (152), Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 2002 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX, 77030, USA. virani@bcm.edu.
authors.forename: Salim S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Virani
mesh_terms: D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000628:therapy*; D040421:Cell Phone; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000628:therapy*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000628:therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods*; D060145:Text Messaging
keywords: Cardiovascular diseases; Hyperlipidemia; Hypertension; Mobile health; mHealth