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Using Technology to Deliver Cardiovascular Care in African Countries

  • Diversity and Health Equity in Cardiology (AE Johnson, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

This review aims to explore the applications of digital technology in cardiovascular care across African countries. It highlights the opportunities and challenges associated with leveraging technology to enhance patient self-monitoring, remote patient-clinician interactions, telemedicine, clinician and patient education, and research facilitation. The purpose is to highlight how technology can transform cardiovascular care in Africa.

Recent Findings

Recent findings indicate that the increasing penetration of mobile phones and internet connectivity in Africa offers a unique opportunity to improve cardiovascular care. Smartphone-based applications and text messaging services have been employed to promote self-monitoring and lifestyle management, although challenges related to smartphone ownership and digital literacy persist. Remote monitoring of patients by clinicians using home-based devices and wearables shows promise but requires greater accessibility and validation studies in African populations. Telemedicine diagnosis and management of cardiovascular conditions demonstrates significant potential but faces adoption challenges. Investing in targeted clinician and patient education on novel digital technology and devices as well as promoting technology-assisted research for participant recruitment and data collection can facilitate cardiovascular care advancements in Africa.

Summary

Technology has the potential to revolutionize cardiovascular care in Africa by improving access, efficiency, and patient outcomes. However, barriers related to limited resources, supportive infrastructure, digital literacy, and access to devices must be addressed. Strategic actions, including investment in digital infrastructure, training programs, community collaboration, and policy advocacy, are crucial to ensuring equitable integration of digital health solutions.

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Funding

Demilade Adedinsewo’s research is supported by the Mayo Clinic Women’s Health Research Center and the Mayo Clinic Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health (BIRCWH) Program funded by the National Institutes of Health (K12 HD065987). Zainab Mahmoud reports grants from the American College of Cardiology/Association of Black Cardiologist/Merck Fellowship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8086, St. Louis, MO, 63110-1093, USA

    Zainab Mahmoud & Cecilia Nartey

  2. Ambulatory Care Department, EHA Clinics, Abuja, Nigeria

    Muhammad Sanusi

  3. Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA

    Demilade Adedinsewo

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  1. Zainab Mahmoud
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  2. Muhammad Sanusi
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  3. Cecilia Nartey
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  4. Demilade Adedinsewo
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Contributions

Z.M, M.S, C.N and D.A all wrote the main manuscript text. Z.M wrote the background, portions of opportunities and recommendations for leveraging technology to deliver cardiovascular care in African countries and prepared Fig. 1 and Table 1. M.S wrote on telemedicine and virtual care. C.N wrote on the opportunities and recommendations for leveraging technology to deliver cardiovascular care in African countries, addressed editor's queries, made modifications based on feedback and is the submitting author. D.A wrote on the applications of technology in cardiovascular care with examples. All authors reviewed the manuscript

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Correspondence to Zainab Mahmoud.

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Mahmoud, Z., Sanusi, M., Nartey, C. et al. Using Technology to Deliver Cardiovascular Care in African Countries. Curr Cardiol Rep 25, 1823–1830 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11886-023-01988-2

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