Management of endocrine disease. Effects of telecare intervention on glycemic control in type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE: To review the published literature on the effects of telecare intervention in patients with type 2 diabetes and inadequate glycemic control.

DESIGN AND METHODS: A review of randomized controlled trials on telecare intervention in patients with type 2 diabetes, and a search of electronic databases such as The Cochrane Library, PubMed, EBSCO, CINAHL, Science Direct, Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), were conducted from December 8 to 16, 2013. Two evaluators independently selected and reviewed the eligible studies. Changes in HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), post-prandial plasma glucose (PPG), BMI, and body weight were analyzed.

RESULTS: An analysis of 18 studies with 3798 subjects revealed that telecare significantly improved the management of diabetes. Mean HbA1c values were reduced by -0.54 (95% CI, -0.75 to -0.34; P<0.05), mean FPG levels by -9.00 mg/dl (95% CI, -17.36 to -0.64; P=0.03), and mean PPG levels reduced by -52.86 mg/dl (95% CI, -77.13 to -28.58; P<0.05) when compared with the group receiving standard care. Meta-regression and subgroup analyses indicated that study location, sample size, and treatment-monitoring techniques were the sources of heterogeneity.

CONCLUSIONS: Patients monitored by telecare showed significant improvement in glycemic control in type 2 diabetes when compared with those monitored by routine follow-up. Significant reduction in HbA1c levels was associated with Asian populations, small sample size, and telecare, and with those patients with baseline HbA1c greater than 8.0%.