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The Effectiveness of Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension
(DASH) Mobile Applications in Supporting a Healthy Diet and
Controlling Hypertension in Adults: Systematic Review (Preprint)


 BACKGROUND
 Uncontrolled hypertension is a public health issue, with increasing prevalence worldwide.
The Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet is one of the most effective
dietary approaches for lowering blood pressure (BP). Dietary mobile applications (apps)
have gained popularity and are being used to support DASH diet self-management, aiming
to improve DASH diet adherence and thus lower BP
 
 
 OBJECTIVE
 This systematic review aimed to assess the effectiveness of smartphone apps that support
self-management to improve DASH diet adherence and, consequently, reduce BP. A
secondary aim was to assess user engagement, satisfaction and acceptance, and usability
related to DASH mobile app use.
 
 
 METHODS
 EMBASE (OVID), Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google
Scholar electronic databases were used to conduct systematic searches for studies
conducted between 2008 and 2021 that used DASH smartphone apps to support self-management. The included articles’ reference lists were also checked.
 
 
 RESULTS
 Five studies (three RCTs and two pre-post studies) including 334 participants altogether
examined DASH mobile apps. All studies found a positive trend related to the use of DASH
smartphone apps, but the three RCTs had a high risk of bias. One pre-post study had a high
risk of bias, the other had a low risk. As a consequence, no firm conclusions can be drawn
regarding DASH smartphone apps’ effectiveness in increasing DASH diet adherence and
lowering blood pressure. All the apps appeared to be accepted and easy to use.
 
 
 CONCLUSIONS
 There is weak emerging evidence of a positive effect of using DASH smartphone apps
supporting self-management to improve DASH diet adherence and, consequently, lower
BP. Further research is needed to provide high-quality evidence that can determine the
effectiveness of DASH smartphone apps.
 
 
 CLINICALTRIAL
 Review article
