Cardiovascular Prevention and Pharmacotherapy

Review Articles

Telemedicine for hypertension: opportunities and responsibilities in management: Jiwon Shinn, Hakyoung Park, Hun-Sung Kim; Cardiovasc Prev Pharmacother. 2025;7(4):155-160. Published online October 23, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.36011/cpp.2025.7.e20

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Abstract PDF: Telemedicine, or non–face-to-face medical treatment, has emerged as an innovative healthcare delivery model that leverages information and communication technologies (ICT) to broaden accessibility, efficiency, and patient convenience. Its effectiveness has been particularly evident in chronic disease management, where long-term monitoring and medication adjustments are essential. Hypertension is the condition most frequently treated through telemedicine among individuals aged over 40 years, exemplifying this suitability. Blood pressure management can be effectively supported through platforms capable of remote monitoring, enabling counseling and medication adjustments without the need for routine physical examinations. In Korea, a leading country in ICT, telemedicine holds strong potential for commercialization and rapid growth. However, current services are often general-purpose platforms designed mainly for administrative simplification and do not align with institutional strategies. There is a need for disease-specific, patient-centered platforms tailored to conditions such as hypertension, in which integrated monitoring of blood pressure and lifestyle factors is critical. Such platforms can partially substitute physical examinations to improve both convenience and clinical outcomes. Despite its advantages, telemedicine has raised significant concerns. Convenience-driven misuse and unresolved issues regarding responsibility, liability, and coordination with pharmacies underscore the need for a clearer legal and institutional framework. In Korea, where healthcare access is already high, the relative urgency may appear lower, yet the commercialization potential remains substantial. Ultimately, telemedicine for chronic diseases should focus on improving patient outcomes, reducing costs, and enhancing patient satisfaction while safeguarding medical professionalism and ethics.

Diverse perspectives on remote collaborative care for chronic disease management: Seo Yeon Baik, Hakyoung Park, Jiwon Shinn, Hun-Sung Kim; Cardiovasc Prev Pharmacother. 2024;6(1):26-32. Published online January 25, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.36011/cpp.2024.6.e5

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Abstract PDF: Remote collaborative care is a program that improves medical services by linking local and remote physicians with residents in areas where access to medical facilities is limited, utilizing information and communication technology. As a result, patients can obtain medical advice and counseling at local hospitals without needing to travel to distant facilities. This care model involves communication between doctors, facilitating the accurate transfer of medical information and reducing the risk of misunderstandings. For instance, managing conditions such as blood pressure or blood glucose is more straightforward because a local hospital can assess the patient's status while a remote hospital simultaneously provides high-quality, specialized medical services. With the rise in poorly controlled hypertension or diabetes, the need for remote collaborative care has also increased. This care model enables local hospitals to maintain continuous patient care with the support of remote facilities. This is particularly true following acute cardiovascular treatment, where local hospitals, assisted by remote institutions, can safely offer high-quality services such as rehabilitation and follow-up care. Although remote hospitals have many advantages with the increasing number of patients, many difficulties remain in commercializing unsystematized remote collaborative care. Specifically, low reimbursements for medical services must be addressed, proper equipment is needed, more time and effort must be invested, and the liability issue must also be dealt with. Nevertheless, remote collaborative care using information and communication technology will be necessary in the future. Medical staff need to objectively examine the advantages and disadvantages of remote collaborative care from various perspectives and find ways to revitalize it.

Original Article

Current status of remote collaborative care for hypertension in medically underserved areas: Seo Yeon Baik, Kyoung Min Kim, Hakyoung Park, Jiwon Shinn, Hun-Sung Kim; Cardiovasc Prev Pharmacother. 2024;6(1):33-39. Published online January 22, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.36011/cpp.2024.6.e2

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Abstract PDF

Background
Remote collaborative care (ReCC) is a legally recognized form of telehealth that facilitates communication between physicians. This study aimed to analyze the effectiveness of ReCC services and establish a foundation for the usefulness and effectiveness of ReCC.
Methods
This retrospective cohort study utilized data from the Digital Healthcare Information System (DHIS) managed by the Korea Social Security Information Service. We extracted data on patients who were registered from January 2017 through September 2023 to investigate the effects of various factors.
Results
A total of 10,407 individuals participated in the remote collaborative consultation service provided by the DHIS. Of these participants, those aged ≥80 years represented 39.2% (4,085 patients), while those aged 70 to 79 years comprised 36.9% (3,838 patients). The conditions treated included hypertension, affecting 69.2% (7,203 patients), and diabetes, affecting 21.1% (2,201 patients). Although various measurement items were recorded, most data beyond blood pressure readings were missing, posing a challenge for analysis. Notably, there was a significant reduction in blood pressure that was sustained at follow-up intervals of 1, 3, 6, and 12 months post-baseline (all P<0.05).
Conclusions
Owing to the lack of data, follow-up assessments for conditions other than hypertension proved to be challenging. Medical staff should increase their focus on and engagement with the system. Remote consultations have demonstrated efficacy in managing hypertension in medically underserved areas, where access to healthcare services is often limited. This suggests the potential for expanded use of remote chronic care in the future.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Impact of caregiver vaccination status on child influenza vaccination hesitancy: A time-to-vaccination analysis for 2023–2024 season in the Republic of Korea
So-Yeon Kim, Minju Song, Seunghyun Lewis Kwon
Vaccine.2025; 49: 126852. CrossRef

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