Teleconsultation and Quality of Life in Older Adults With Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Pooja Yadav, Vikrant KanwarAbstract
Background and Aims
Depression is a leading cause of disability among older adults, substantially reducing quality of life (QoL). Teleconsultation and other digitally delivered psychological interventions have emerged as alternatives to in-person care, offering potential to overcome barriers such as mobility limitations and geographic isolation. While their effectiveness in reducing depressive symptoms is established, their impact on QoL, particularly its mental component, remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of teleconsultation on quality of life, with a focus on its mental component, among older adults with depression or depressive symptoms, compared with in-person or usual care.
Methods
Database including MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, and CENTRAL were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from inception to July 2025, comparing teleconsultation or digitally delivered psychological interventions with in-person or usual care, and reporting QoL outcomes in older adults with depression.
Results
Twelve RCTs (n = 2,600) were included; 1,262 participants received teleconsultation and 1,338 received in-person or usual care. Meta-analysis of 10 RCTs (n = 2,144) showed a small, non-significant improvement in QoL favouring teleconsultation (SMD = 0.13, 95% CI − 0.02 to 0.28), with substantial statistical heterogeneity (I² = 65.7%; Cochran's Q P=.002). Subgroup analyses demonstrated benefits for mental QoL (SF-12 and SF-36 mental component scores), and at 6–8 months follow-up, but effects were not sustained beyond 9 months. Sensitivity analyses confirmed robustness, and no significant publication bias was detected.
Conclusions
Teleconsultation may provide modest short- to mid-term improvements in mental QoL among older adults with depression, comparable to or slightly better than in-person or usual care, although benefits may diminish over time.