Use of m-Health Technology for Preventive Interventions to Tackle Cardiometabolic Conditions and Other Non-Communicable Diseases in Latin America- Challenges and Opportunities

BERATARRECHEA ANDREA; VILMA IRAZOLA; J JAIME MIRANDA; ADOLFO RUBINSTEIN

PROGRESS IN CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES

W B SAUNDERS CO-ELSEVIER INC

Lugar: Philadelphia; Año: 2016

0033-0620

In Latin America, cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality rates will increase by an estimated145% from 1990 to 2020. Several challenges related to social strains, inadequate public healthinfrastructure, and underfinanced healthcare systems make cardiometabolic conditions andnon-communicable diseases (NCDs) difficult to prevent and control. On the other hand, theregion has high mobile phone coverage, making mobile health (mHealth) particularlyattractive to complement and improve strategies toward prevention and control of theseconditions in low- andmiddle-incomecountries. In this article, we describe the experiences ofthree Centers of Excellence for prevention and control of NCDs sponsored by the NationalHeart, Lung, and Blood Institute with mHealth interventions to address cardiometabolicconditions and other NCDs in Argentina, Guatemala, and Peru. The nine studies describedinvolved the design and implementation of complex interventions targeting providers,patients and the public. The rationale, design of the interventions, and evaluation of processesand outcomes of each of these studies are described, together with barriers and enablingfactors associated with their implementation.