A Nationally Representative Evaluation of Patients with Established Cardiovascular Disease and Cardiovascular Risk Factors Achieving Health Goals with Electronic Devices in the United States

Background: Electronic devices, like tablets and smartphones, may help users track and manage cardiovascular (CV) risk factors. However, data on their effectiveness and equitable distribution are scarce. We aimed to investigate the patterns and predictors of achieving health goals using tablets/smartphones among patients with CVD or with CV risk factors. Methods: We used data from the nationally representative Health Information National Trends Survey 5 (HINTS5) from 2017 to 2020. In a validated questionnaire, tracking a health-related goal (quitting smoking, losing weight, or increasing physical activity) using tablets/smartphones was assessed in patients with CVD (ischemic heart disease and congestive heart failure) or CV risk factors (smoking, obesity, hypertension, and diabetes), for magnitude and demographic predictors of success. Results: Among 16,092 participants of HINTS5, 1,606 had CVD (68±14 years, 47% women), and 8,984 were at risk of CVD (59±15 years, 59% women). During 2017-2020, compared with an estimated 46% (95% CI: 44-47%) of the US adult population, 33% (95% CI: 28-38%) of patients with CVD and 43% (95%CI: 41-45%) of patients at-risk of CVD successfully reported tracking their progress to achieve a CV health goal using tablets/smartphones. Younger age, female sex, non-Hispanic Black race, and higher income were significantly associated with higher proportion reporting improving their CV health, among patients with and at-risk of CVD. Discussion: Nearly half of patients with CV risk factors successfully manage health habits using electronic devices, but given large underuse among demographic groups with frequent adverse cardiovascular outcomes, a systematic approach to their use in clinical care may help improve patient outcomes.