Remotely Delivered Nutrition Interventions with or Without Physical Activity Interventions in Adults with Cardiovascular Diseases: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

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• Picked for Biochemistry (medical) (top studies of the week, 30 August 2026).

Abstract

Objective: The long-term management of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) requires comprehensive rehabilitation strategies aimed at optimizing functional recovery and promoting behavioral changes. These interventions may include digital technologies that emerged as promising approaches to facilitate lifestyle changes, such as dietary behavior and physical activity (PA). Aim: This review aimed to synthesize the current evidence for the potential impact of remotely delivered nutrition interventions with or without a combination of PA interventions on biochemical biomarkers, cardiovascular indexes, anthropometric parameters, levels of PA, exercise and functional capacity, adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD), diet quality and quality of life, rehospitalization, urgent visits, death and acute events in adults (≥18 years) with CVDs. Secondary outcomes were accessibility, safety, usability, and adherence. Methods: The PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were comprehensively searched up to 2026 for Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) published in English, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The methodological quality was assessed using the revised Cochrane Risk of bias tool for RCTs (RoB2). Results: 11 RCTs met the inclusion criteria. Sample sizes ranged from 66 to 879 participants. The duration of the interventions varied from 4 weeks to 12 months. The interventions were delivered remotely using a range of digital health technologies, including web-based programs, mobile phones, wearable devices, smartphone applications, and mini-apps. Favorable changes were observed in diet quality and in adherence to MD and PA levels, with no intervention-related adverse events reported. The RoB2 assessment indicated that the majority of included studies (6 out of 11) were classified as having some concerns regarding risk of bias. Conclusions: Remotely combined nutrition and PA interventions are a feasible and effective approach for improving mainly patient-reported outcomes in adults with CVDs. These findings support integrating remote multimodal rehabilitation into routine cardiovascular care and highlight the potential of telehealth-based models to enhance patients' access to rehabilitation services.

Abstract as published, via PubMed.