JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The increasing global rate of chronic diseases is a major public health challenge. Traditional self-management methods often have drawbacks, including poor patient understanding, unclear goals, and inefficient communication with healthcare professionals. Mobile health (mHealth) technology offers a promising alternative, using digital education, self-monitoring, and personalized feedback to support self-management.

Objective:

This systematic review aims to comprehensively analyze the application, effectiveness,and limitations of mHealth technologies in chronic disease management, and to propose future directions for its advancement in this field.

Methods:

A systematic search for clinical trials was performed using PubMed and Web of Science, focusing on studies published from 2015 to 2025. Search terms covered seven chronic diseases (hypertension, diabetes, chronic pain, COPD, Parkinson's disease, stroke, and asthma) and keywords like "application" or "mobile health." Selected studies used mobile apps for patient self-management and reported on management outcomes. Study quality was evaluated with the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. Data on study details, app functions, and results were collected and analyzed.

Results:

Twenty-six studies were included. The most common app features were personalized recommendations, real-time symptom monitoring, health education, and medication/rehabilitation guidance. Some apps used AI for intelligent interaction or included health coaches for remote support. Seventeen studies showed significant improvements in primary outcomes, especially for stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and asthma, where monitoring symptoms and providing timely feedback were key. Some positive effects were also seen in studies on hypertension and chronic pain. However, results for COPD and diabetes were less consistent, with effectiveness relying heavily on how regularly patients used the app and whether real-time monitoring was combined with professional support. Key challenges included suboptimal patient compliance, short study durations, and technical issues with app design.

Conclusions:

MHealth technology shows strong potential to improve self-management and health outcomes for patients with various chronic diseases. Its success depends on app features, user adherence, and the specific disease. Future work should focus on improving app design for ease of use and personalization, enhancing data security, and finding ways to boost long-term user engagement to make mHealth a sustainable tool for chronic disease management.