Patients who used mobile apps to monitor their condition after surgery were 22% less likely to experience serious complications and visit emergency departments, while their risk of hospital readmission was 15% lower. However, the benefits depended on whether doctors and nurses reviewed the data and responded to warning signs. The findings were presented at the annual Anesthesiology 2026 conference, Medical Xpress reports.
The researchers analyzed 38 studies involving 7,507 patients. The apps prompted users to report daily on pain, temperature, nausea and the condition of their surgical wounds.
Some programs also incorporated fitness trackers and smartphone-connected devices to measure blood pressure, body temperature and blood oxygen levels.
Participants using these programs also reported less pain and anxiety, improvements in physical health and quality of life, and greater satisfaction with their medical care.
However, the overall number of complications did not decrease significantly. This may mean that the apps do not prevent every problem but can help identify warning signs earlier, before they require emergency care, hospital readmission or another surgical procedure.
The involvement of healthcare professionals proved to be a key factor: hospital readmissions decreased only in programs where a doctor or nurse reviewed patients' reports and could take action. No reduction in risk was observed when such monitoring was absent.
"Simply using an app does not necessarily make recovery after surgery safer," said the study's lead author, Mouad Elganga, a medical student at the University of Toronto.
He advised patients to find out in advance who will review the data they submit and how quickly the medical team will respond if warning signs emerge.
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