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

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