The Role of Digital Therapeutics and Artificial Intelligence in Chronic Disease Management: A Narrative Review

Clinical Snapshot

Key Findings

• P Value: Not reported

• Effect Size: Not reported — no quantitative effect estimates are provided in the abstract or described methodology

• Primary Outcome: Digital therapeutics were reported to offer personalised care, improved patient engagement and adherence, real-time monitoring and feedback, enhanced accessibility and convenience, and cost-effectiveness in chronic disease management

• Nnt Or Sensitivity: Not applicable — no quantitative synthesis performed; no NNT, sensitivity, specificity, or hazard ratios reported

• Confidence Interval: Not reported

Clinical Application

The review identifies real implementation barriers including cybersecurity risks, interoperability challenges, the digital divide, and insufficient clinical validation. These barriers are particularly relevant in resource-limited settings. Feasibility in high-income health systems with established digital infrastructure is plausible but not quantified. The review does not provide implementation frameworks, cost-effectiveness thresholds, or workflow integration guidance. In the Australian context, digital therapeutics intersect with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) regulatory framework for Software as a Medical Device (SaMD), which has been progressively aligned with international standards (IMDRF). The PBS does not currently subsidise standalone digital therapeutics, though MBS telehealth items support some remote monitoring. The RACGP has published guidance on digital health in general practice. The Australian Digital Health Agency's national strategy and My Health Record infrastructure provide relevant context for interoperability. The digital divide affecting rural, remote, and First Nations communities is a critical equity consideration directly relevant to this review's identified barriers. This review, however, does not engage with any of these frameworks and cannot be used to inform Australian policy or clinical practice directly. Adults with chronic conditions (diabetes, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, mental health disorders) who have access to digital devices and connectivity. Applicability is most relevant to health-literate, digitally connected populations. Vulnerable groups — elderly, low-income, rural, and digitally excluded patients — are acknowledged as underserved but not specifically analysed.

Abstract

We conducted research showing that chronic disease management continued to challenge healthcare systems, payers, and patients. At the same time, digital therapeutics emerged as a promising and potentially transformative approach. They supported better management of long-term conditions, improved patient outcomes, and helped streamline healthcare delivery. We carried out a comprehensive literature search to identify both original reports and reviewed publications. The search covered multiple databases, including Google Scholar and PubMed, and we also gathered relevant information from credible online sources such as the World Health Organization and India's National Crime Records Bureau. Using these findings, the narrative explained how digital therapeutics reshaped chronic disease management by highlighting key benefits, the technologies that enabled these solutions, and the expected impacts on both clinical and economic outcomes. We also discussed the obstacles the sector encountered as it developed, and we considered the future prospects of digital therapeutics in chronic care. In conclusion, digital therapeutics offered personalised care, improved patient engagement and adherence, provided real-time monitoring and feedback, enhanced accessibility and convenience, and were cost-effective in managing chronic disease; however, challenges such as cybersecurity concerns, reliability of data, the digital divide, and a lack of extensive clinical validation needed to be addressed for widespread adoption. While the evidence to date suggested clear clinical and economic promise, realizing that promise required coordinated action stronger clinical trials to build robust evidence, clear regulatory pathways to ensure safety and efficacy, investment in secure interoperable infrastructure, and targeted efforts to close the digital divide so vulnerable populations were not left behind; policymakers, clinicians, payers, and technology developers had to collaborate to translate innovation into equitable, scalable care improvements.

References

1. 1.Shendre, S. H., Mendhe, H., Borkar, S., & Nair, N. (2026). The role of digital therapeutics and artificial intelligence in chronic disease management: A narrative review. The Nigerian Postgraduate Medical Journal. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40501-023-00287-5