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World J Cardiol. Nov 26, 2025; 17(11): 114140
Published online Nov 26, 2025. doi: 10.4330/wjc.v17.i11.114140
Effect of mobile phone applications on medication adherence among patients with coronary artery diseases: A scoping review
Mohamed K Seyam, Riyaz Ahamed Shaik, Mohammad Miraj, Naif S Alzahrani, Abdul Rahim Shaik, Puneeta Ajmera, Sheetal Kalra, Shaima Ali Miraj, Ghada M Shawky, Khulud Mahmood Nurani, Prashanth A
Mohamed K Seyam, Mohammad Miraj, Abdul Rahim Shaik, Ghada M Shawky, Department of Physical Therapy and Health Rehabilitation, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Majmaah University, AlMajmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia
Riyaz Ahamed Shaik, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Majmaah University, AlMajmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia
Naif S Alzahrani, Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, College of Nursing, Taibah University, Medina 41477, Saudi Arabia
Puneeta Ajmera, Department of Public Health, School of Allied Health Sciences, Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research University, New Delhi 110017, India
Sheetal Kalra, School of Physiotherapy, Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research University, New Delhi 110017, India
Shaima Ali Miraj, Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Saudi Electronic University, Riyadh 11673, Saudi Arabia
Khulud Mahmood Nurani, School of Medicine, University of Nairobi, Nairobi 30197-00100, Kenya
Prashanth A, Department of Physiology, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Maharashtra 442102, India
Co-corresponding authors: Mohammad Miraj and Khulud Mahmood Nurani.
Author contributions: Seyam MK, Alzahrani NS, Shaik AR, and Shawky GM were responsible for data collection; Shaik RA and Miraj M were responsible for study conception and design; Miraj M, Shaik AR, Miraj SA, and Nurani KM were responsible for draft manuscript; Ajmera P and Kalra S were responsible for analysis and interpretation of results; all authors contributed to editorial changes in the manuscript, reviewed the results and approved the final version of the manuscript, have participated sufficiently in the work and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Khulud Mahmood Nurani, MD, School of Medicine, University of Nairobi, Mbagathi Road, Nairobi 30197-00100, Kenya. khuludnurani@gmail.com
Received: September 12, 2025
Revised: September 28, 2025
Accepted: October 24, 2025
Published online: November 26, 2025
Processing time: 70 Days and 10.7 Hours
Abstract

Patients with cardiovascular disease rely on medication to achieve favorable long-term clinical results. Poor adherence has been linked to a relative increase in mortality of 50%-80% as well as higher health care costs. This scoping review thus aimed to explore the evidence of the effects of mobile health care apps on medication adherence in patients with cardiovascular diseases. A comprehensive data search and extraction was done in line with the updated Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews checklist. A total of 10 studies were included for the review. The mean pooled improvement in adherence was found to be 18% and the most effective tool was the digital therapeutics app discussed in Li et al’s study. Smartphones and apps enhance coronary artery disease management by promoting medication compliance. Challenges include data security and smartphone usage among the elderly. Tailored apps or voice assistants offer potential solutions.

Keywords: Mobile phone applications; Coronary artery disease; Medication adherence; Digital technology; Compliance

Core Tip: Mobile health applications can improve medication adherence in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), with studies showing an average 18% increase in adherence. Digital therapeutics apps demonstrated the greatest effectiveness. While smartphones offer a promising platform for enhancing CAD management, challenges such as data security and limited technology use among older adults remain. Tailored apps and voice-assisted interventions may overcome these barriers and optimize adherence.