Leveraging Digital Health to Improve the Cardiovascular Health of Women

Purpose of review: In this review, we present a comprehensive discussion on the population-level implications of digital health interventions (DHIs) to improve cardiovascular health (CVH) through sex- and gender-specific prevention strategies among women.

Recent findings: Over the past 30 years, there have been significant advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among men and women worldwide. However, women are often underdiagnosed, undertreated, and underrepresented in cardiovascular clinical trials, which all contribute to disparities within this population. One approach to address this is through DHIs, particularly among racial and ethnic minoritized groups. Implementation of telemedicine has shown promise in increasing adherence to healthcare visits, improving BP monitoring, weight control, physical activity, and the adoption of healthy behaviors. Furthermore, the use of mobile health applications facilitated by smart devices, wearables, and other eHealth (defined as electronically delivered health services) modalities has also promoted CVH among women in general, as well as during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Overall, utilizing a digital health approach for healthcare delivery, decentralized clinical trials, and incorporation into daily lifestyle activities has the potential to improve CVH among women by mitigating geographical, structural, and financial barriers to care.

Summary: Leveraging digital technologies and strategies introduces novel methods to address sex- and gender-specific health and healthcare disparities and improve the quality of care provided to women. However, it is imperative to be mindful of the digital divide in specific populations, which may hinder accessibility to these novel technologies and inadvertently widen preexisting inequities.