The Effectiveness of Telemedicine in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: An Overview of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis

Introduction:Although telemedicine is widely used in the field of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), many systematic reviews have evaluated telemedicine, but we still have no clear effect on RA and no evidence summary. Our aim is to determine the effectiveness of telemedicine on different health outcomes of RA. Methods:The following sources were used: PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Embase. The publication period was from the establishment of the database to May 12, 2022. Methodological and reporting qualities were assessed using A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2 and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Each intervention's evidence of effect was graded in accordance with the Grades of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation standards. The comparison of systematic reviews and the investigation of the impact of telemedicine on various outcomes were carried out through a meta-analysis of original studies. Results:Eight systematic reviews were included. The results showed that telemedicine imparted significant improvements in patients with RA in terms of disease activity, function, physical activity, self-efficacy, and knowledge. Conclusions:Telemedicine can improve the overall standard of care for patients with RA. In the future, standardized telemedicine processes should be developed to protect patients.