Table 1.

Study characteristics.

Reference (year), country	Study design and study duration	Sample size; disease	Intervention group (IG) or control group (CG)	Outcomes of interesta	Resultsb
Holmen et al (2014), Norway [21]	3-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT), multicenter, 12 months	N=151; Diabetes mellitus (DM) type 2	IG 1: app to increase self-management ; IG 2: IG 1 + five health counseling sessions by a diabetes nurse; CG: usual care	Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), Weight, Health-related quality of life (HRQoL; 36-item short form survey, SF-36), Lifestyle change (dietary and physical activity)	No statistical differences between groups (NS) in outcomes of interest
Johnston et al (2016), Sweden [32]	2-arm RCT, multicenter, 6 months	N=174; Myocardial infarction	IG: app to register information about drug adherence, exercise, weight, smoking, blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and blood glucose; CG: simplified app with drug adherence e-diary	Cardiovascular risk (body mass index, physical activity), QoL (EuroQoL-5D)	NS in outcomes of interest
Karhula et al (2015), Finland [26]	2-arm RCT, 12 months	N=519; Heart disease patients (ischemic and/or heart failure) or DM type 2	IG: app with health coaching and self-monitoring of health parameters; CG: usual care	HRQoL (SF-36), HbA1c (in DM patients), Body weight, Waist circumference	Diabetics: Change in waist circumference, P=.01; IG: −2.03, 95% CI (−2.76 to −1.29), CG: − 0.29, 95% CI (−1.47 to 0.9); NS in other outcomes of interest; Heart patients: NS in all outcomes of interest
Orsama et al (2013), Finland [27]	2-arm RCT, 10 months	N=53; DM type 2	IG: app for monitoring and remote reporting of diabetes health-related parameters; CG: usual care	HbA1c, Body weight	Change in HbA1c, P=.02, IG: −0.4, 95% CI (−0.67 to −0.14), CG: 0.004, 95% CI (−0.35 to 0.36)-Change in body weight, P=.02, IG: −2.1 kg, 95% CI (−3.6 to −0.6), CG: 0.4 kg, 95% CI (−1.1 to 1.9)
Quinn et al (2008), Maryland, United States [28]	2-arm RCT, multicenter, 3 months	N=30; DM type 2	IG: app with monitoring of health parameters; CG: not mentioned	HbA1c	Change in HbA1c, P=.04, IG: −2.03%, CG: −0.68%
Quinn et al (2011), Maryland, United States [22]	4-arm cluster RCT, 12 months	N=163; DM type 2	IG 1: app allowing patients to enter diabetes self-care data. Web portal that augmented the app. Health providers had access to analyzed patient data; IG 2: as IG 1, but in the Web portal, health providers had access to unanalyzed patient data; IG 3: as IG 2, but the health providers had only access to patient data if the patients chose to share it; CG: usual care	HbA1c	Change in HbA1c, P=.001, 95% CI change in IG: −2.3 to −1.5, CG: −1.1 to −0.3
Waki et al (2014), Japan [29]	2-arm RCT, 3 months	N=54; DM type 2	IG: app aiming to increase self-management; CG: usual care, continue their self-care regimen	HbA1c, Body mass index (BMI)	Change in HbA1c, P=.015, IG: −0.4%, CG: 0.1%; NS in other outcomes of interest
Wayne et al (2015), Canada [30]	2-arm RCT, multicenter, 6 months	N=131; DM type 2	IG: app monitoring health parameters; CG: usual care and health coaching	HbA1c, Body weight, BMI, Waist circumference, QoL (SF-12)	NS in outcomes of interest.
Zhou et al (2016), China [31]	2-arm RCT, 3 months	N=100; DM type 1 and type 2	IG: app monitoring health parameters; CG: usual care	HbA1c, Body weight, BMI, Waist circumference	Change in HbA1c, P<.01, IG: −1.95%, CG: −0.79%; NS in other outcomes of interest.

^aOutcome in italics indicate primary outcome in the study.

^bResults are reported as difference between groups (P value) and as mean change in each group in accordance what is used by the authors.