Effectiveness of mHealth Interventions for Blood Pressure Control among Vulnerable Populations: A Systematic Review

Social determinants of health and sociodemographic differences place some individuals at higher risk for hypertension leading to persisting disparities. While mobile health (mHealth) offers a promising approach to facilitate blood pressure (BP) management, it remains unclear which interventions are most effective for addressing disparities in hypertension control. We reviewed the current literature to examine whether mHealth interventions for BP control are effective in improving BP control in populations vulnerable to disparities in hypertension. We conducted a systematic review using multiple databases from January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2020. For inclusion, participants must have elevated blood pressure and belong to a sociodemographic group with known disparities in hypertension. We also tracked specific characteristics of each intervention. Out of the eight articles that met our eligibility criteria for inclusion, five were published in 2018 to 2020. Only four demonstrated a significant reduction in BP and all those interventions incorporated care teams. Despite some evidence of the effectiveness of mHealth interventions for improving BP control among vulnerable groups, more effective interventions are needed, and the quality of studies is overall low. Further research is needed to find the most effective ways to engage diverse communities with mHealth solutions to improve BP control.