1. The Influence of Physical Activity and Diet Mobile Apps on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors: Meta-Review
- Author
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Erica Bushey, Yin Wu, Alexander Wright, and Linda Pescatello
- Subjects
Computer applications to medicine. Medical informatics ,R858-859.7 ,Public aspects of medicine ,RA1-1270 - Abstract
BackgroundThe literature on whether physical activity (PA) and PA and diet (PA+Diet) mobile apps improve cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors is promising. ObjectiveThe aim of this meta-review is to provide an evidence synthesis of systematic reviews and meta-analyses examining the influence of PA and PA+Diet apps on the major CVD risk factors. MethodsWe systematically searched 5 databases until January 12, 2022. Included systematic reviews and meta-analyses (1) reported the CVD risk factor outcomes of BMI, waist circumference, body weight, blood pressure (BP), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), fasting blood glucose, blood lipids, or PA; (2) enrolled healthy participants ≥18 years who may or may not have the metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, or preexisting CVD risk factors; (3) reviewed PA or PA+Diet app interventions integrating behavioral change techniques (BCT) to deliver their information; and (4) had a nonapp control. ResultsIn total, 17 reviews (9 systematic reviews and 8 meta-analyses) published between 2012 and 2021 qualified. Participants were middle-aged, mostly women ranging in number from 10 to 62,219. Interventions lasted from 1 to 24 months, with the most common behavioral strategies being personalized feedback (n=8), self-monitoring (n=7), and goal setting (n=5). Of the PA app systematic reviews (N=4), the following CVD risk factors improved: body weight and BMI (n=2, 50%), BP (n=1, 25%), HbA1c (n=1, 25%), and blood lipids (n=1, 25%) decreased, while PA (n=4, 100%) increased. Of the PA+Diet app systematic reviews (N=5), the following CVD risk factors improved: body weight and BMI (n=3, 60%), BP (n=1, 20%), and HbA1c (n=3, 60%) decreased, while PA (n=3, 60%) increased. Of the PA app meta-analyses (N=1), the following CVD risk factors improved: body weight decreased (–0.73 kg, 95% CI –1.45 to –0.01; P=.05) and PA increased by 25 minutes/week (95% CI 0.58-1.68; P
- Published
- 2024
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