Inequity in Access to and Use of Digital Health Technologies in Routine Heart Failure Care: Protocol for a Scoping Review

BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) is a global health challenge characterized by high mortality, morbidity, and economic burden. The development of digital health technologies offers promising tools for prevention, early detection, and management of HF, potentially improving prognoses and reducing costs. However, these innovations may also widen existing health disparities related to socioeconomic status, geography, and race/ethnicity.

OBJECTIVE: This scoping review will examine and map existing evidence on socioeconomic, geographic, and racial/ethnic differences in access to and use of digital health technologies for HF care in routine practice.

METHODS: The writing of this protocol followed the methodological framework by Arksey and O'Malley, including (1) identifying the research question; (2) identifying relevant studies; (3) selecting studies to be included in the review; (4) charting the data; and (5) collating, summarizing, and reporting the results. Eligible studies must examine digital health technologies in adults (aged ≥18 years) with any type of HF and report on social determinants of health, geography, or race/ethnicity. Observational study designs will be included. Searches will be conducted in Embase, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus. A 2-stage screening process will determine study eligibility, and data will be extracted using a standardized form.

RESULTS: The project is funded. Data collection is expected to begin by the beginning of 2026.

CONCLUSIONS: This scoping review will map existing evidence on differences in access to and use of digital health technologies for HF care. The findings are anticipated to highlight patterns and gaps in the literature, informing future research and strategies for equitable implementation.