More Older Adults Try Patient Portals in Recent Years, but Many Don't Continue: A Meta-Analysis.

Abstract

Patient portals are a convenient way for patients to communicate with healthcare providers and manage care. Active portal engagement is associated with enhanced knowledge, increased self-efficacy, and improved symptom management. However, gaps in portal use persist, particularly among older adults. We conducted a random-effects meta-analysis of studies published between 2005 and 2025, with publication year as a moderator. From 1,487 unique records, 18 studies were included in the meta-analysis. We found that an estimated 55% of older adults have used a patient portal at least once, and 49% were continuing users, although these rates varied widely across studies. Publication year was a significant moderator for ever having used a patient portal, suggesting increasing uptake over time, but was not significantly associated with continued use. These findings suggest that improving onboarding alone may not be sufficient; ongoing tech support is needed to sustain long-term patient portal engagement among older adults.