Effectiveness of Group Medical Visits on Cardiometabolic Outcomes in Adult Patients With Cardiometabolic Diseases: An Umbrella Review
- 1Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Université de Sherbrooke Sherbrooke Québec Canada
- 2Faculté De Médecine Université de Montréal Montréal Québec Canada
- 3Vitalité Health Network Moncton New Brunswick Canada
Abstract
Background and Objective Rising demand and patient complexity challenge primary health care sustainability, prompting interest in group medical visits (GMVs). Although GMVs have been widely studied, heterogeneous evidence hinders synthesis. This umbrella review aimed to summarize evidence from systematic reviews (SRs) on GMVs in improving cardiometabolic disease indicators compared with usual primary care. Methods SRs of GMVs targeting cardiometabolic risk factors in adults were included. A comprehensive search (July 2025) preregistered in PROSPERO was conducted without restrictions. Study overlap, quality, and risk of bias were assessed using validated tools. Findings were synthesized with the direction‐of‐effect approach. Results The search identified 4837 records, of which nine SRs met the inclusion criteria, collectively encompassing 120 nonoverlapping primary studies. A moderate overlap of primary studies was observed (9.4%). The target populations were patients seeking weight loss (n = 1), with diabetes (n = 4) or chronic cardiometabolic diseases in general (n = 4). Approximately 80% of the evidence informing reviews on chronic cardiometabolic diseases was from primary studies on diabetes. Nearly half of the reviews demonstrated moderate methodological quality (4/9), and most exhibited low risk of bias (8/9). The most consistent and favorable outcomes were observed for HbA1c (6/7) and blood pressure (BP) (6/8). Results for blood lipids were mixed, ranging from equivalence (4/8) to superiority (4/8). GMVs were generally equivalent to traditional care for weight (4/7) and body mass index (4/6) outcomes. Self‐efficacy and self‐management were improved following GMVs (6/6), suggesting potential mechanisms through which GMVs may influence outcomes. GMVs were also often proven effective in improving lifestyle (3/5). Conclusion GMVs represent an effective alternative to traditional primary care for managing HbA1c and BP, particularly among patients with diabetes. Further research should explore their effectiveness in individuals with a broader range of cardiometabolic conditions.
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BibTeX
@article{couturier2026effectiveness,
title = {{Effectiveness of Group Medical Visits on Cardiometabolic Outcomes in Adult Patients With Cardiometabolic Diseases: An Umbrella Review}},
author = {Couturier S. and Déry V. and Plourde Roussel P. and LeBlanc É. and Faivre P. and Cormier J. and Aubé S. and Gallant F. and O'Brien M. and Mekari S. and Bélanger M.},
journal = {Lifestyle Medicine},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1002/lim2.70080},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/lim2.70080},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Effectiveness of Group Medical Visits on Cardiometabolic Outcomes in Adult Patients With Cardiometabolic Diseases: An Umbrella Review
AU - Couturier S.
AU - Déry V.
AU - Plourde Roussel P.
AU - LeBlanc É.
AU - Faivre P.
AU - Cormier J.
AU - Aubé S.
AU - Gallant F.
AU - O'Brien M.
AU - Mekari S.
AU - Bélanger M.
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/26
JO - Lifestyle Medicine
DO - 10.1002/lim2.70080
UR - https://doi.org/10.1002/lim2.70080
AB - Background and Objective Rising demand and patient complexity challenge primary health care sustainability, prompting interest in group medical visits (GMVs). Although GMVs have been widely studied, heterogeneous evidence hinders synthesis. This umbrella review aimed to summarize evidence from systematic reviews (SRs) on GMVs in improving cardiometabolic disease indicators compared with usual primary care. Methods SRs of GMVs targeting cardiometabolic risk factors in adults were included. A comprehensive search (July 2025) preregistered in PROSPERO was conducted without restrictions. Study overlap, quality, and risk of bias were assessed using validated tools. Findings were synthesized with the direction‐of‐effect approach. Results The search identified 4837 records, of which nine SRs met the inclusion criteria, collectively encompassing 120 nonoverlapping primary studies. A moderate overlap of primary studies was observed (9.4%). The target populations were patients seeking weight loss (n = 1), with diabetes (n = 4) or chronic cardiometabolic diseases in general (n = 4). Approximately 80% of the evidence informing reviews on chronic cardiometabolic diseases was from primary studies on diabetes. Nearly half of the reviews demonstrated moderate methodological quality (4/9), and most exhibited low risk of bias (8/9). The most consistent and favorable outcomes were observed for HbA1c (6/7) and blood pressure (BP) (6/8). Results for blood lipids were mixed, ranging from equivalence (4/8) to superiority (4/8). GMVs were generally equivalent to traditional care for weight (4/7) and body mass index (4/6) outcomes. Self‐efficacy and self‐management were improved following GMVs (6/6), suggesting potential mechanisms through which GMVs may influence outcomes. GMVs were also often proven effective in improving lifestyle (3/5). Conclusion GMVs represent an effective alternative to traditional primary care for managing HbA1c and BP, particularly among patients with diabetes. Further research should explore their effectiveness in individuals with a broader range of cardiometabolic conditions.
SN - 2688-3740
ER -