SynthesisBMJ open2022
Use of technology to prevent, detect, manage and control hypertension in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review.
Synthesis in BMJ open, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Co-created Technological Solutions for Caregivers in Health Care: Systematic Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2023Pooled it
- The effect of health literacy intervention on adherence to medication of uncontrolled hypertensive patients using the M-health.BMC medical informatics and decision making · 2023Trial
- Support needs of people living with hypertension in Ghana: the voices of the patients.BMC primary care · 2026Article
- Transforming hypertension management with digital technology: a retrospective cohort study in four sub-Saharan African countries.BMJ public health · 2026Article
- Mapping the evidence on mHealth interventions for cardiovascular event care in Africa: a scoping review.Heart (British Cardiac Society) · 2025Article
- Rethinking chronic care: how blended patient-centered care delivery and innovative financing models can contribute to achieving universal health coverage-a case study of an integrated approach in Kenya.Oxford open digital health · 2025Article
- Impact of artificial intelligence and digital technology-based diagnostic tools for communicable and non-communicable diseases in Africa.African journal of laboratory medicine · 2024Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveTo identify and assess the use of technologies, including mobile health technology, internet of things (IoT) devices and artificial intelligence (AI) in hypertension healthcare in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).
designSystematic review. DATA SOURCES: Medline, Embase, Scopus and Web of Science. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Studies addressing outcomes related to the use of technologies for hypertension healthcare (all points in the healthcare cascade) in SSA.
methodsDatabases were searched from inception to 2 August 2021. Screening, data extraction and risk of bias assessment were done in duplicate. Data were extracted on study design, setting, technology(s) employed and outcomes. Blood pressure (BP) reduction due to intervention was extracted from a subset of randomised controlled trials. Methodological quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool.
results1717 hits were retrieved, 1206 deduplicated studies were screened and 67 full texts were assessed for eligibility. 22 studies were included, all reported on clinical investigations. Two studies were observational, and 20 evaluated technology-based interventions. Outcomes included BP reduction/control, treatment adherence, retention in care, awareness/knowledge of hypertension and completeness of medical records. All studies used mobile technology, three linked with IoT devices. Short Message Service (SMS) was the most popular method of targeting patients (n=6). Moderate BP reduction was achieved in three randomised controlled trials. Patients and healthcare providers reported positive perceptions towards the technologies. No studies using AI were identified.
conclusionsThere are a range of successful applications of key enabling technologies in SSA, including BP reduction, increased health knowledge and treatment adherence following targeted mobile technology interventions. There is evidence to support use of mobile technology for hypertension management in SSA. However, current application of technologies is highly heterogeneous and key barriers exist, limiting efficacy and uptake in SSA. More research is needed, addressing objective measures such as BP reduction in robust randomised studies. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42020223043.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What Socratic holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.