Gerotechnology for Older Adults With Cardiovascular Diseases: JACC State-of-the-Art Review

Abstract

The growing population of older adults (age ≥65 years) is expected to lead to higher rates of cardiovascular disease. The expansion of digital health (encompassing telehealth, telemedicine, mobile health, and remote patient monitoring), Internet access, and cellular technologies provides an opportunity to enhance patient care and improve health outcomes—opportunities that are particularly relevant during the current coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic. Insufficient dexterity, visual impairment, and cognitive dysfunction, found commonly in older adults should be taken into consideration in the development and utilization of existing technologies. If not implemented strategically and appropriately, these can lead to inequities propagating digital divides among older adults, across disease severities and socioeconomic distributions. A systematic approach, therefore, is needed to study and implement digital health strategies in older adults. This review will focus on current knowledge of the benefits, barriers, and use of digital health in older adults for cardiovascular disease management.