Impact of Telehealth Engagement on Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Chronic Diseases: A Cross-Sectional Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61919/jhrr.v6i3.1990Keywords:
Telehealth; Telemedicine; Chronic Disease Management; Diabetes Mellitus; Digital Health; Glycemic Control; Telemonitoring; Cross-Sectional Study.Abstract
Background: Telehealth has emerged as an important strategy for improving chronic disease follow-up by enhancing accessibility, continuity of care, and remote clinical monitoring. However, evidence regarding the relationship between telehealth engagement and clinical outcomes in patients with chronic diseases remains limited in developing healthcare settings. Objective: To evaluate the association between telehealth engagement and clinical outcomes among patients receiving chronic disease follow-up at The University of Lahore Teaching Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 327 adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus undergoing telehealth-supported chronic disease follow-up. Demographic variables, comorbidities, telehealth engagement status, and clinical outcomes were assessed. Clinical outcomes included HbA1c reduction, systolic blood pressure reduction, fasting glucose improvement, quality-of-life improvement, hospitalization, and poor clinical outcome. Inferential analysis was performed using odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: The mean age of participants was 58.6 ± 11.8 years, and 55.4% were female. Hypertension was present in 66.1% of patients, while 62.1% demonstrated multimorbidity. Mean HbA1c decreased by 0.76 ± 1.18%, systolic blood pressure decreased by 6.4 ± 13.6 mmHg, and fasting glucose decreased by 12.8 ± 38.5 mg/dL. Clinically meaningful HbA1c improvement occurred in 57.2% of patients, and quality-of-life improvement was observed in 59.3%. Low telehealth engagement was significantly associated with poor clinical outcome (OR 2.18, 95% CI 1.32–3.61, p=0.002). Multimorbidity (OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.08–3.07, p=0.024) and baseline HbA1c ≥8.5% (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.06–2.86, p=0.029) were also significant predictors of adverse outcome. Conclusion: Regular telehealth engagement was associated with improved chronic disease outcomes, including better glycemic control, blood pressure improvement, and enhanced quality of life. Sustained digital follow-up may represent an effective strategy for chronic disease management in resource-constrained healthcare environments.
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