Managing cardiovascular risk factors with telemedicine in primary care : a systematic review and meta-analysis of patients with arterial hypertension and type 2 diabetes

Mihevc, Matic (author), Virtič, Tina (author), Zavrnik, Črt (author), Klemenc-Ketiš, Zalika (author), Poplas-Susič, Tonka (author), Petek Šter, Marija (author)

Objectives: To review the effect of telemedicine interventions on cardiovascular risk factors control in people with arterial hypertension (AH), type 2 diabetes (T2D), or both in primary care. Methods: We conducted a systematic review in February 2024 using PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE databases. We included randomised controlled trials from 2010 onwards, lasting ≥3 months, comparing telemedicine to standard care for managing cardiovascular risk factors in adults with AH, T2D, or both. Results: Among 1803 records, 54 were included. Telemonitoring with teleconsultations showed the best outcomes. For AH, systolic blood pressure decreased by -5.63 mmHg (95% CI -9.13 to -2.13) at 6 months and -5.59 mmHg (95% CI -10.03 to -1.14) at 12 months compared to standard care. For T2D, HbA1c decreased by -0.45% (95% CI -0.90 to 0.00) at 6 months and -0.18% (95% CI -0.41 to 0.05) at 12 months compared to standard care. Blood glucose self-monitoring was as effective as telemonitoring for T2D at 6 months. The effect on diastolic blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, and body mass index was non-significant. Discussion: Telemedicine offers short-term benefits but lacks long-term effectiveness. Optimal outcomes require a combined telemedicine approach, health education co-intervention, ≥12-month follow-up, and careful patient selection.

• Language: English
• Keywords: HbA1c, telemonitoring, blood pressure, health education, lipids, teleconsultations
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: MF - Faculty of Medicine
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: Str. 3-24
• Numbering: Vol. 21, iss. 1
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-183058
• UDC: 614
• ISSN on article: 1745-9206
• DOI: 10.1177/17423953241277896
• COBISS.SI-ID: 206767107
• Publication date in RUL: 03.06.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Chronic illness
• Publisher: Sage
• ISSN: 1745-9206
• COBISS.SI-ID: 518239257

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: HbA1c, telemonitoring, krvni tlak, zdravstvena vzgoja, lipidi, telekonzultacije

Projects

• Funder: EC - European Commission
• Project number: 825432
• Name: SCale Up an integrated care package for diaBetes and hYpertension for vulnerable people in Cambodia, Slovenia and Belgium
• Acronym: SCUBY

• Funder: ARRS - Slovenian Research Agency
• Project number: P3-0339
• Name: Raziskave na področju javnega zdravja