What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to explore digital educational strategies that support evidence-based prevention and management of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ACAD).

March 18, 2026Open Access

Digital Educational Strategies to Implement Evidence-Based Care for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Review. Population: Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ACAD). Intervention: Digital educational strategies (text messaging, video, apps, conversational agents, AI).

Key Result

Text messaging interventions nearly double smoking cessation rates (RR 1.87) and improve medication adherence to support atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease care when clinically integrated.

Key Points

The aim is to explore digital educational strategies that support evidence-based prevention and management of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ACAD).
Reviewed various digital educational approaches for ACAD management.
Assessed the effectiveness of text messaging, video education, and multicomponent strategies.
Evaluated the role of conversational agents and generative AI in enhancing medication adherence and lifestyle modifications.
Text messaging significantly improves medication adherence and smoking cessation.
Video education increases knowledge, but its effects on behavior vary.
Multicomponent and app-based strategies show potential in improving physical activity and glycemic control, depending on design.
Conversational agents contribute to modest lifestyle changes, particularly in primary prevention.

Structured PICO

Do digital educational strategies improve evidence-based care and cardiometabolic risk factors in patients with or at risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease?

Population

Patients with or at risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ACAD)

Intervention

Digital educational strategies including text messaging, video-based education, smartphone apps, conversational agents (chatbots), and generative AI

Outcome

Cardiometabolic risk factors, medication adherence, smoking cessation, and lifestyle behaviorssurrogate

Digital educational strategies can effectively support atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease prevention and management when well-designed, clinically integrated, and health-literacy aligned.

Limitations

Substantial heterogeneity in intervention components limits generalisability and translation to routine care.
Risk of bias and outcome inconsistency in some clinical endpoints for text messaging.
Limited robust large-scale effectiveness trials for conversational AI and generative AI in ACAD populations.
Risk of plausible but inaccurate content with generative AI tools.

Abstract

The Lancet Commission reconceptualises coronary artery disease as atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (ACAD)—a lifelong, systemic condition driven by atheroma rather than its late ischaemic consequences. This review summarises digital educational approaches that can support evidence-based ACAD prevention and management earlier in the disease course. Evidence is strongest for text messaging, which improves medication adherence and smoking cessation and yields modest cardiometabolic benefits. Video education consistently enhances knowledge and engagement, though behavioural and clinical effects are mixed. Multicomponent and app-based strategies can support physical activity, weight, and glycaemic control, but results depend on design and integration. Conversational agents show small to moderate lifestyle improvements, mainly in primary prevention, but robust ACAD-specific outcome data are limited. Generative AI may enhance readability and access, yet clinical benefit is unproven and requires strong governance. Digital education can support ACAD care when well-designed, clinically integrated, and health-literacy aligned.

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