Telemedicine and Digital Medicine in the Clinical Management of Hypertension and Hypertension-Related Cardiovascular Diseases: A Position Paper of the Italian Society of Arterial Hypertension (SIIA).

Abstract

High blood pressure is the leading cause of death and disability globally and an important treatable risk factor for cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and chronic kidney diseases. Digital technology, including mobile health solutions and digital therapy, is expanding rapidly in clinical medicine and has the potential to improve the quality of care and effectiveness of drug treatment by making medical interventions timely, tailored to hypertensive patients' needs and by improving treatment adherence. Thus, the systematic application of digital technologies could support diagnosis and awareness of hypertension and its complications, ultimately leading to improved BP control at the population level. The progressive implementation of digital medicine in the national health systems must be accompanied by the supervision and guidance of health authorities and scientific societies to ensure the correct use of these new technologies with consequent maximization of the potential benefits. The role of scientific societies in relation to the rapid adoption of digital technologies, therefore, should encompass the entire spectrum of activities pertaining to their institutional role: information, training, promotion of research, scientific collaboration and advice, evaluation and validation of technological tools, and collaboration with regulatory and health authorities.