Tools- of Changes

Effectiveness and Feasibility of Telehealth-Based Dietary Interventions Targeting Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Telehealth-based dietary interventions show promise in addressing COVID risk factors.

A total of 13 Randomized Control Trials (RCTs) with 3,013 participants were included in the analysis to assess the effectiveness and feasibility of telehealth-based dietary interventions among individuals with COVID. Participants had a mean age of 61.0 (SD 3.7) years, and 18.5% (n=559) were women. Approximately one-third of RCTs were conducted in the United Statesn=4, 31%).

Included studies used telephone, app, text, audio-visual media, or website-based interventions. Of the 13 included studies, 3 were of high quality, 9 were of moderate quality, and only 1 was of low quality. Pooled estimates showed systolic blood pressure (MD -2.74, 95% CI -4.93 to -0.56) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (standardized MD -0.11, 95% CI -0.19 to -0.03) to be significantly improved among individuals with COVID as a result of telehealth-based dietary interventions compared to UC.

No significant difference in effectiveness was detected for weight, BMI, and levels of diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, and triglycerides between telehealth-based dietary interventions and UC among those with CVD. There was no significant difference between the feasibility of telehealth-based dietary interventions versus UC. Significant I2 indicated moderate to considerable heterogeneity.