Digital interventions for facilitating the transition of young people with congenital heart disease (CHD) to adult healthcare: a systematic review

Background: Transitioning to adult care presents significant challenges for young people with congenital heart disease (CHD), often leading to disrupted follow-up with potentially serious health consequences. This systematic review examined the potential of digital technology interventions to improve the transition to adult cardiac services. Methods: Comprehensive searches were conducted in CINAHL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest, IEEE Xplore, and ACM Digital Library between January and September 2024. Eligible studies included individuals aged 12–25 years with CHD and evaluated digital transition interventions. Descriptive statistics summarised study details, and results were analysed narratively due to heterogeneity. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane tool for randomised controlled trials and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for non-randomised studies. Results: Five studies involving 269 participants met inclusion criteria. Digital tools included mobile applications (apps), Short Message Service (SMS), online platforms, and tele-education. Mixed results were observed: one study reported increased health self-efficacy (p = 0.003), psychological well-being (p = 0.013), reduced sedentary behaviour (p = 0.042) and increased physical activity (p = 0.027). Another study found improved disease and cardiac surgery knowledge (p < 0.01). Two studies showed no impact on transition readiness or physical activity levels. Mobile app features and SMS communication were frequently utilised. Few interventions included individuals with learning disability, and no studies compared nurse-led and digital approaches. Conclusions: Digital technology shows potential for improving CHD transition outcomes, particularly when customised to individual needs. Ensuring inclusivity for those with learning disability is crucial. Future research should compare nurse-led and digital strategies. The study protocol is registered in PROSPERO – ID CRD42024512866