The number and proportion of older people are growing at an unprecedented rate. By 2030, the population aged 60 and over is expected to constitute one-sixth of the global population, and the number will increase to about 2.1 billion worldwide by 2050.1 The aging population is exacerbating the shortage of medical care and pension resources, posing a severe challenge to the existing healthcare system.2 Consequently, addressing how to enhance the quality of life for older adults, improve their health, and promote healthy aging has become an urgent issue that needs to be addressed.

Indeed, the rapid advancement of digital technologies, including the Internet and artificial intelligence, has led to the increased use of Digital health products (DHPs) as a means to maintain and enhance the health of older individuals. These technologies are instrumental in promoting the goal of healthy aging.3,4 According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the domain of digital health encompasses a range of categories, including mobile health (mHealth), health information technologies, wearable devices, telehealth and telemedicine, as well as personalized medicine.5

DHPs offer a variety of online services to the older people, facilitating self-health management.4 Seniors can utilize wearable devices to monitor a range of health-related data, such as pulse, heart rate, blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and sleep patterns. Health professionals can then employ this data to diagnose illnesses, monitor health status, and create personalized treatment plans.6,7 As noted by Cruz-Cobo and Johnston et al.,8,9 DHPs can deliver health information and disease management prompts, aiding older adults in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, enhancing medication compliance, and improving disease outcomes. Furthermore, DHPs can offer online physical function training programs, including strength training, cognitive exercises, and physical activity routines, etc.10, 11, 12 In addition, the use of DHPs to provide telemedicine services to the older population enables remote monitoring and online consultations, offering convenience particularly to patients in rural areas or those with limited mobility.13 In summary, DHPs play a vital role in the early diagnosis, intervention, management, and monitoring of a wide range of diseases.

Although extensive research attests to the positive effects of DHPs on promoting healthy aging, barriers to their widespread adoption among the older population persist. The decline in cognitive, visual, and hearing functions, coupled with a lack of Internet knowledge among older individuals, leads to their slower adoption of new technologies compared to younger people. This disparity has been one of the key factors contributing to the digital divide.14,15 The digital divide,16,17 a term first proposed in 1995, refers to differences in the adoption and use of digital technologies across various groups.

Negative attitudes towards technology, the complexity of new technological devices, and designs that fail to consider the needs and perspectives of older adults all serve to deepen the digital divide experienced by this demographic.16 Simultaneously, the application of innovative technologies in geriatrics and health promotion runs the risk of exacerbating issues of age discrimination and increasing the sense of technological isolation among seniors.18 Addressing these challenges is essential to ensure that older adults can fully benefit from the advancements in digital health. The objective of this review is to identify the factors that may affect older users when they engage with DHPs. Additionally, it aims to elucidate their needs and preferences concerning the application of DHPs, thereby ensuring that they can enjoy equitable access to the conveniences brought about by technological progress.