2nd Edition of Public Health World Conference (PHWC) 2026

Abstract

Background:
Telehealth has been proposed as a strategy to improve the management of chronic diseases and to address inequities in healthcare access. However, long-term evidence from real-world programs in Latin America remains scarce.

Objective:
To evaluate the long-term clinical and social effects of a hybrid telehealth model implemented at the Alma Mater Hospital of Antioquia, the first digital hospital in Latin America, for patients with hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia.

Methods:
A retrospective pre–post study was conducted, including 319 adults who received continuous hybrid telehealth care between 2019 and 2025. Sociodemographic, clinical, and behavioral variables were extracted from electronic health records and the institutional digital monitoring platforms GHIPS and Analytica. Within-patient changes were assessed using paired tests with false discovery rate adjustments.

Results:
Substantial reductions in hospitalizations, emergency visits, and acute complications such as diabetic ketoacidosis, myocardial infarction, and hypertensive crises were observed.

Significant improvements were recorded in body weight, body mass index, blood pressure, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and total cholesterol. Program adherence increased by 34 percentage points, social support improved by 10 points, and physical activity by 22 points. The proportion of participants meeting at least one international therapeutic target rose from 22 to 53 percent (p < 0.001).

Conclusion:
Hybrid telehealth care was associated with sustained improvements in cardiometabolic control and behavioral outcomes. Its integration into routine services contributed to reducing inequities in access to specialized care for low-income and geographically remote populations, demonstrating its feasibility and long-term effectiveness in a middle-income setting.