Telemedicine and Follow-up in Patients with Chronic Diseases: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Introduction: Telemedicine has transformed the management of chronic diseases by enabling continuous clinical follow-up and overcoming geographical and healthcare barriers.

Objective: To systematically and critically analyze recent scientific contributions on telemedicine and chronic disease follow-up, identifying trends, gaps, and future perspectives that guide the development of patient-centered policies, models, and clinical practices grounded in equity and technological sustainability.

Methods: A scoping systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Studies published between January 2020 and September 2025 were retrieved from Scopus, ScienceDirect, Web of Science/SciELO, PubMed, ProQuest, and other databases. Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method studies evaluating telemedicine in chronic disease follow-up were included. The risk of bias was assessed using a validated instrument, and references were managed with Mendeley.

Results: Of 165 records, 35 studies met the inclusion criteria, primarily quantitative (85.7%) and non-experimental (48.6%), with an average of 420 participants per study. The United States accounted for 31.4% of the publications, followed by Saudi Arabia, Norway, China, Denmark, and Mexico. The findings showed improvements in glycemic control, blood pressure, and treatment adherence, although technological gaps and structural inequalities still limited global sustainability.

Conclusions: Telemedicine is an effective and adaptable tool for the follow-up of chronic diseases, provided it is integrated into inclusive public policies that promote digital equity and continuous training of healthcare personnel. Its consolidation requires humanizing virtual care, ensuring that technology complements—rather than replaces—the therapeutic relationship.