World Heart Day 2021: COVID-19, digital health, and tackling cardiovascular disease

The results of a digital health trial in a community hospital with a limited number of doctors in rural Kenya are an indicator of what could be achieved.7 Patients were able to consult doctors and specialists online about their health, including their blood pressure. The study showed that telemedicine was effective in improving control of systolic blood pressure and gave patients access to quality, affordable medication.7 There are challenges in relation to awareness, accessibility, and availability of the necessary technology that will need to be overcome on the path to increased use of digital health. Much digital health research takes place in selected populations in high-income countries. [...]AI-derived algorithms are influenced by the gender, ethnicity, age, and socioeconomic status of the sampled population.9,10 If we are to make global recommendations, then we need the same quality of data everywhere, representing all people.