Efficacy of Mobile Health Applications in Facilitating Quality of Life in COPD Patients: A Systematic Review

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a prevalent condition that significantly impacts quality of life (QoL). The rise of mobile health (mHealth) applications offers a novel strategy to support self-management in COPD patients. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of mobile health applications in improving QoL among patients with mild to severe COPD. This is a systematic review following PRISMA guidelines and was conducted using Medline, SPORT Discus, Scopus, and CINAHL (2017-2024). Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing mobile health interventions targeting QoL in COPD patients were included. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane tool by a single reviewer. Data were extracted using Cochrane-recommended procedures. From 299 studies, six RCTs (<i>n</i> = 539 participants) were included. Interventions varied in duration (6 weeks to 12 months) and incorporated education, symptom tracking, and exercise guidance. Significant improvements in QoL (<i>P</i> < 0.05) were reported in 50% of the included studies. However, limitations included small sample sizes, single-reviewer extraction, and heterogeneity in outcome measures. Mobile health applications demonstrate potential in improving QoL in COPD patients; however, findings should be interpreted with caution due to methodological limitations. Further high-quality, long-term RCTs are warranted.