Improving access to cardiovascular care for 1.4 billion people in China using telehealth
Abstract Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) pose a significant health burden in China, where the large population and vast geography limit access to care. Telehealth (tHealth) services provide a virtual model of care that can enhance CVD management. This study aims to describe the trajectory of tHealth...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-12-01
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| Series: | npj Digital Medicine |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-024-01381-5 |
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| _version_ | 1850086035327811584 |
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| author | Xiaohang Liu Wei Chen Yu Qiu Xiang Li Fei Liu Zhili Jiang Fuwei Jia Chenggang Wang Rongrong Ji Tawquir R. Nawaz Dingding Zhang Yong Zeng Hai Gao Jeffrey Hsu |
| author_facet | Xiaohang Liu Wei Chen Yu Qiu Xiang Li Fei Liu Zhili Jiang Fuwei Jia Chenggang Wang Rongrong Ji Tawquir R. Nawaz Dingding Zhang Yong Zeng Hai Gao Jeffrey Hsu |
| author_sort | Xiaohang Liu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) pose a significant health burden in China, where the large population and vast geography limit access to care. Telehealth (tHealth) services provide a virtual model of care that can enhance CVD management. This study aims to describe the trajectory of tHealth services for cardiovascular care between 2016 and 2020 in China, assess their utilization, and discuss their implications for improving access to care in resource-scarce regions. Data were collected on patient-facing, operational tHealth apps in Mainland China. In 2016, 45.8% of tertiary hospitals were accessible via tHealth apps, with a 10.7% annual growth rate. Wealthier regions had better tHealth coverage, irrespective of CVD burden. In 2016 and 2020, 34% and 67% of patients, respectively, consulted doctors located outside of their provinces, primarily in wealthier areas. The most common CVDs managed were hypertension, coronary artery disease, and arrhythmia. These findings suggest that tHealth services improve care access, especially in underdeveloped regions, but widespread technology adoption remains crucial. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f493bd9bfbb542d489e561235a1cdcf2 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2398-6352 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | npj Digital Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-f493bd9bfbb542d489e561235a1cdcf22025-08-20T02:43:35ZengNature Portfolionpj Digital Medicine2398-63522024-12-017111010.1038/s41746-024-01381-5Improving access to cardiovascular care for 1.4 billion people in China using telehealthXiaohang Liu0Wei Chen1Yu Qiu2Xiang Li3Fei Liu4Zhili Jiang5Fuwei Jia6Chenggang Wang7Rongrong Ji8Tawquir R. Nawaz9Dingding Zhang10Yong Zeng11Hai Gao12Jeffrey Hsu13Department of Cardiology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeDepartment of Cardiology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeDepartment of Hematology, China Japan Friendship HospitalDivision of Cardiology, Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityDivision of Cardiology, Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityDivision of Cardiology, Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityDepartment of Cardiology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeDivision of Cardiology, Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityLead Medical, Bldg. 6, Fengchuang Science Park, Beijing Economic and Technological Development ZoneLead Medical, Bldg. 6, Fengchuang Science Park, Beijing Economic and Technological Development ZoneDepartment Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeDivision of Cardiology, Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityDivision of Cardiology, Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityLead Medical, Bldg. 6, Fengchuang Science Park, Beijing Economic and Technological Development ZoneAbstract Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) pose a significant health burden in China, where the large population and vast geography limit access to care. Telehealth (tHealth) services provide a virtual model of care that can enhance CVD management. This study aims to describe the trajectory of tHealth services for cardiovascular care between 2016 and 2020 in China, assess their utilization, and discuss their implications for improving access to care in resource-scarce regions. Data were collected on patient-facing, operational tHealth apps in Mainland China. In 2016, 45.8% of tertiary hospitals were accessible via tHealth apps, with a 10.7% annual growth rate. Wealthier regions had better tHealth coverage, irrespective of CVD burden. In 2016 and 2020, 34% and 67% of patients, respectively, consulted doctors located outside of their provinces, primarily in wealthier areas. The most common CVDs managed were hypertension, coronary artery disease, and arrhythmia. These findings suggest that tHealth services improve care access, especially in underdeveloped regions, but widespread technology adoption remains crucial.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-024-01381-5 |
| spellingShingle | Xiaohang Liu Wei Chen Yu Qiu Xiang Li Fei Liu Zhili Jiang Fuwei Jia Chenggang Wang Rongrong Ji Tawquir R. Nawaz Dingding Zhang Yong Zeng Hai Gao Jeffrey Hsu Improving access to cardiovascular care for 1.4 billion people in China using telehealth npj Digital Medicine |
| title | Improving access to cardiovascular care for 1.4 billion people in China using telehealth |
| title_full | Improving access to cardiovascular care for 1.4 billion people in China using telehealth |
| title_fullStr | Improving access to cardiovascular care for 1.4 billion people in China using telehealth |
| title_full_unstemmed | Improving access to cardiovascular care for 1.4 billion people in China using telehealth |
| title_short | Improving access to cardiovascular care for 1.4 billion people in China using telehealth |
| title_sort | improving access to cardiovascular care for 1 4 billion people in china using telehealth |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-024-01381-5 |
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