Mobile Health Technology to Improve Care for Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

BackgroundCurrent management of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) is limited by low detection of AF, non-adherence to guidelines, and lack of consideration of patients’ preferences, thus highlighting the need for a more holistic and integrated approach to AF management.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to determine whether a mobile health (mHealth) technology-supported AF integrated management strategy would reduce AF-related adverse events, compared with usual care.MethodsThis is a cluster randomized trial of patients with AF older than 18 years of age who were enrolled in 40 cities in China. Recruitment began on June 1, 2018 and follow-up ended on August 16, 2019. Patients with AF were randomized to receive usual care, or integrated care based on a mobile AF Application (mAFA) incorporating the ABC (Atrial Fibrillation Better Care) Pathway: A, Avoid stroke; B, Better symptom management; and C, Cardiovascular and other comorbidity risk reduction. The primary composite outcome was a composite of stroke/thromboembolism, all-cause death, and rehospitalization. Rehospitalization alone was a secondary outcome. Cardiovascular events were assessed using Cox proportional hazard modeling after adjusting for baseline risk.ResultsThere were 1,646 patients allocated to mAFA intervention (mean age, 67.0 years; 38.0% female) with mean follow-up of 262 days, whereas 1,678 patients were allocated to usual care (mean age, 70.0 years; 38.0% female) with mean follow-up of 291 days. Rates of the composite outcome of ‘ischemic stroke/systemic thromboembolism, death, and rehospitalization’ were lower with the mAFA intervention compared with usual care (1.9% vs. 6.0%; hazard ratio [HR]: 0.39; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.22 to 0.67; p < 0.001). Rates of rehospitalization were lower with the mAFA intervention (1.2% vs. 4.5%; HR: 0.32; 95% CI: 0.17 to 0.60; p < 0.001). Subgroup analyses by sex, age, AF type, risk score, and comorbidities demonstrated consistently lower HRs for the composite outcome for patients receiving the mAFA intervention compared with usual care (all p < 0.05).ConclusionsAn integrated care approach to holistic AF care, supported by mHealth technology, reduces the risks of rehospitalization and clinical adverse events. (Mobile Health [mHealth] technology integrating atrial fibrillation screening and ABC management approach trial; ChiCTR-OOC-17014138).     

Health Behaviors for Hypertension Management in People With and Without Coexisting Diabetes

Since blood pressure (BP) control is less often achieved by individuals with diabetes, the authors sought to determine whether receipt of and adherence to health behavior advice for hypertension control differs between people with and without diabetes, using data from the 2009 Survey on Living With Chronic Diseases in Canada. Individuals with coexisting diabetes were more likely to report receiving advice to control/lose weight (81% vs 66%), be physically active (79% vs 68%), limit alcohol consumption (78% vs 55%), and modify diet (70% vs 61%) but not limit dietary salt (65% vs 64%) compared with individuals with hypertension alone (n=4.965). People with and without diabetes were equally likely to report following the advice they received, with receipt of advice positively associated with engagement in healthy behaviors. Since receipt of advice appears to influence behavior, health professionals should be encouraged to further promote BP self‐management strategies.     

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Mobile Health Intervention in Patients With Heart Failure and Diabetes

BackgroundMobile health (mHealth) platforms can affect health behaviors but have not been rigorously tested in randomized trials.ObjectivesWe sought to evaluate the effectiveness of a pragmatic mHealth intervention in patients with heart failure (HF) and diabetes (DM).MethodsWe conducted a multicenter randomized trial in 187 patients with both HF and DM to assess an mHealth intervention to improve physical activity and medication adherence compared to usual care. The primary endpoint was change in mean daily step count from baseline through 3 months. Other outcomes included medication adherence, health-related quality of life and metabolomic profiling.ResultsThe mHealth group had an increase in daily step count of 151 steps/day at 3 months, whereas the usual-care group had a decline of 162 steps/day (least squares mean between-group difference = 313 steps/day; 95% CI: 8 619; P = 0.044). Medication adherence, measured using the Voils Adherence Questionnaire, did not change from baseline to 3 months (LS-mean change –0.08 in mHealth vs –0.15 in usual care; P = 0.47). The mHealth group had an improvement in Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire Overall Summary Score compared to the usual-care group (LS-mean difference = 5.5 points, 95% CI: 1.4, 9.6; P = 0.009). Thirteen metabolites, primarily medium- and long-chain acylcarnitines, changed differently between treatment groups from baseline to 3 months (P < 0.05).ConclusionsIn patients with HF and DM, a 3-month mHealth intervention significantly improved daily physical activity, health-related quality of life and metabolomic markers of cardiovascular health but not medication adherence.Condensed AbstractHeart failure (HF) and diabetes (DM) have overlapping biological and behavioral risk factors. We conducted a multicenter randomized, clinical trial in 187 patients with both HF (regardless of ejection fraction) and DM to assess whether an mHealth intervention could improve physical activity and medication adherence. The mHealth group had an increase in mean daily step count and quality of life but not in medication adherence. Medium- and long-chain acylcarnitines changed differently in treatment groups from baseline to 3 months (P < 0.05). These data have important implications for designing effective lifestyle interventions in HF and DM.     

Transforming Hypertension Management Using Mobile Health Technology for Telemonitoring and Self-Care Support

Achieving and sustaining good blood pressure control continues to be a challenge for many reasons including nonadherence with prescribed treatment and lifestyle measures, shortage of primary care physicians especially in less populated areas, and variations in physicians’ practice behaviour. Many strategies have been advocated to improve outcomes with the greatest success being achieved using nurse or pharmacist-led interventions in which they were given the authority to prescribe or alter antihypertensive treatment. However, this treatment approach, which historically involved 1-on-1 visits to a doctor’s office or pharmacy, proved costly, was not scalable, and did not actively engage patients in treatment decision-making. Several electronic health interventions have been designed to overcome these limitations. Though more patient-centred and often effective, they required wired connections and a personal computer, and logging on for Internet access and navigating computer screens greatly reduced access for many older patients. Furthermore, it is unclear whether the benefits were related to better case management or technological advances. Mobile health (mHealth) technology circumvents the technical challenges of electronic health systems and provides a more flexible platform to enhance patient self-care. mHealth applications are particularly appropriate for interventions that depend on patients' sustained adherence to monitoring schedules and prescribed treatments. Studies from our group in hypertension and other chronic conditions have shown improved health outcomes using mHealth applications that have undergone rigourous usability testing. Nonetheless, the inability of most electronic medical record systems to receive and process information from mobile devices continues to be a major impediment in realizing the full potential of mHealth technology.     

Identifying Mobile Health Technology Experiences and Preferences of Low-Income Pregnant Women with Diabetes

Background:Rapid expansion of mobile technology has resulted in the development of many mobile health (“mHealth”) platforms for health monitoring and support. However, applicability, desirability, and extent of tailoring of these platforms for pregnant women, particularly in populations who experience the greatest health inequities—such as women with diabetes mellitus (DM) and/or those with greater socioeconomic barriers—remains unknown. The objective is to understand low-income pregnant women’s experiences and preferences for mHealth tools to support DM health and improve DM self-management during pregnancy.Methods:Low-income pregnant and postpartum women were included in individual interviews or focus groups; women with type 2 DM, gestational DM, or no DM were included. Analysis was performed with the constant comparison method.Results:In this population of 45 (N=37 with DM) low-income, largely minority, pregnant and postpartum women, 100% reported access to smartphones and prior experience with apps. Interest in mHealth to support health and engagement during pregnancy was high. Preferences for general mHealth features included education that reduces uncertainty, support communities, visualizing progress, convenient access to information, and support for better management of pregnancy-related tasks. Preferred design elements included personalization, interactive features, and integrated graphics. Women with DM expressed multiple additional DM-specific needs, including support tools for DM self-management and self-regulation tasks.Conclusion:Pregnant and postpartum women, especially those with DM, desire mHealth technology to support engagement and to adapt lifestyle guidelines and treatment requirements for a healthy pregnancy. Further work to develop mHealth interventions tailored for target populations remains a key step in reducing health inequities and promoting access to evidence-based perinatal health interventions.     

Technology for Hospital Management of Diabetes: Understanding and Improving Management of Inpatient Diabetes Mellitus: The Mayo Clinic Arizona Experience

We present an overview of strategies our institution has taken to understand the state of its inpatient diabetes management. We first describe how we utilized information systems to assess inpatient glycemic control and insulin management in noncritically ill patients and discuss our findings regarding mean bedside glucose levels, the prevalence and frequency hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic events, the patterns of insulin therapy, and evidence of inpatient clinical inertia. We also review the development of a survey to determine practitioner attitudes and beliefs about inpatient diabetes. Results of this survey study found that, in general, practitioners believed in the importance of controlling hyperglycemia but were not comfortable with many aspects of inpatient diabetes care, particularly with the use of insulin. Finally, we suggest steps to follow in developing a quality-improvement program for hospitals.     

Pharmacists' Role in Improving Diabetes Medication Management

Today there are significant gaps between reaching the goal of “optimal medication therapy” and the current state of medication use in the United States. Pharmacists are highly accessible and well-trained—yet often underutilized—key health care professionals who can move us closer toward achieving better medication therapy outcomes for patients. Diabetes medication management programs led by pharmacists are described. This is consistent with the “medical home” concept of care that promotes primary care providers working collaboratively to coordinate patient-centered care. Pharmacists utilize their clinical expertise in monitoring and managing diabetes medication plans to positively impact health outcomes and empower patients to actively manage their health. In addition, pharmacists can serve as a resource to other health care providers and payers to assure safe, appropriate, cost-effective diabetes medication use.     

Diabetes Professionals Must Seize the Opportunity in Mobile Health

The number of diabetes management mobile applications (apps) available on the market has grown exponentially since 2009; however, most patients lack the skills necessary for finding relevant health care information. Thus, clinical best practices emphasize the need for ongoing patient education. Despite the importance of education in clinical guidelines, very few of these apps include education in their top functionalities. Most diabetes management mobile apps are not medical devices by definition, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and therefore do not require clearance or approval for market, and very few have been subject to clinical evaluation. There has been little research on the use of diabetes management mobile apps, marginalizing the role of diabetes professionals and educators in a burgeoning market, hungry for information and an improved quality of life. Still, mobile technology holds great promise as a platform for self-management. Health care providers must not only educate patients about these resources, but take steps to ensure that mobile apps follow accepted best practices and guidelines.     

Beyond Health Information Technology: Critical Factors Necessary for Effective Diabetes Disease Management

Background

Electronic health records (EHRs) have been implemented throughout the United States with varying degrees of success. Past EHR implementation experiences can inform health systems planning to initiate new or expand existing EHR systems. Key “critical success factors,” e.g., use of disease registries, workflow integration, and real-time clinical guideline support, have been identified but not fully tested in practice.

Methods

A pre/postintervention cohort analysis was conducted on 495 adult patients selected randomly from a diabetes registry and followed for 6 years. Two intervention phases were evaluated: a “low-dose” period targeting primary care provider (PCP) and patient education followed by a “high-dose” EHR diabetes management implementation period, including a diabetes disease registry and office workflow changes, e.g., diabetes patient preidentification to facilitate real-time diabetes preventive care, disease management, and patient education.

Results

Across baseline, “low-dose,” and “high-dose” postintervention periods, a significantly greater proportion of patients (a) achieved American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines for control of blood pressure (26.9 to 33.1 to 43.9%), glycosylated hemoglobin (48.5 to 57.5 to 66.8%), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (33.1 to 44.4 to 56.6%) and (b) received recommended preventive eye (26.2 to 36.4 to 58%), foot (23.4 to 40.3 to 66.9%), and renal (38.5 to 53.9 to 71%) examinations or screens.

Conclusions

Implementation of a fully functional, specialized EHR combined with tailored office workflow process changes was associated with increased adherence to ADA guidelines, including risk factor control, by PCPs and their patients with diabetes. Incorporation of previously identified “critical success factors” potentially contributed to the success of the program, as did use of a two-phase approach.     

A Review of Web-Assisted Interventions for Diabetes Management: Maximizing the Potential for Improving Health Outcomes

Current endeavors in diabetes care focus on helping patients and providers deal successfully with the complexities of the disease by improving the system of care, expanding the reach of interventions, and empowering patients to engage in self-care behaviors. Internet technologies that combine the broad reach of mass media with the interactive capabilities of interpersonal media provide a wide range of advantages over standard modes of delivery. The technical affordances of Web delivery enable individualization or tailoring, appropriately timed reinforcement of educational messages, social support, improved feedback, and increased engagement. In turn, these have been significantly correlated with improved health outcomes.This article is a narrative review of Web-based interventions for managing type 2 diabetes published from 2000 to 2007 that utilize Web sites, Web portals, electronic medical records, videoconference, interactive voice response, and short messaging systems. The most effective systems link medical management and self-management. Patient satisfaction is highest when the Web-based system gives them the ability to track blood glucose, receive electronic reminders, schedule physician visits, email their health care team, and interact with other diabetic patients. However, comprehensive medical and self-management programs have not been implemented widely outside of systems funded by government agencies. The cost of developing and maintaining comprehensive systems continues to be a challenge and is seldom measured in efficacy studies. Lack of reimbursement for Web-based treatments is also a major barrier to implementation. These barriers must be overcome for widespread adoption and realization of subsequent cost savings.     

Effectiveness of Mobile Health Technology Interventions for Patients With Heart Failure: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BackgroundHeart failure (HF) is a complex and serious condition associated with substantial morbidity, mortality, and health care costs. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effects of mobile health (mHealth) interventions compared with usual care in patients with HF.MethodsWe searched MEDLINE, CENTRAL, CINAHL, and EMBASE databases to identify eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of mHealth interventions. Primary outcomes included: all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, HF-related hospitalizations, and all-cause hospitalizations. Meta-analyses using a random effects model were performed for all outcomes. Risk of bias and quality of evidence were evaluated using the Cochrane Tool and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework.ResultsSixteen RCTs involving 4389 patients were included. Compared with usual care, mHealth interventions reduced the risk of all-cause mortality (risk ratio [RR], 0.80; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.65-0.97; absolute risk reduction [ARR], 2.1%; high-quality evidence), cardiovascular mortality (RR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.53-0.91; ARR, 2.9%; high-quality evidence), and HF hospitalizations (RR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.67-0.88; ARR, 5%; high-quality evidence), but had no effect on all-cause hospitalizations. Results were driven by mHealth interventions with remote monitoring and clinical feedback, which were associated with larger reductions than stand-alone mHealth interventions. However, subgroup differences were not statistically significant.ConclusionsmHealth interventions with remote monitoring and clinical feedback reduce mortality and HF-related hospitalizations, but might not reduce all-cause hospitalizations in patients with HF. Additional studies are needed to determine the efficacy of stand-alone mHealth interventions as well as active features of mHealth that contribute to efficacy.     

Technology to Optimize Pediatric Diabetes Management and Outcomes

Technology for diabetes management is rapidly developing and changing. With each new development, there are numerous factors to consider, including medical benefits, impact on quality of life, ease of use, and barriers to use. It is also important to consider the interaction between developmental stage and technology. This review considers a number of newer diabetes-related technologies and explores issues related to their use in the pediatric diabetes population (including young adults), with a focus on psychosocial factors. Areas include trend technology in blood glucose monitoring, continuous glucose monitoring, sensor-augmented insulin pumps and low glucose suspend functions, internet applications including videoconferencing, mobile applications (apps), text messaging, and online gaming.     

Telemedicine and Mobile Health Technology Are Effective in the Management of Digestive Diseases: A Systematic Review

Background

Mobile applications and interactive websites are an increasingly used method of telemedicine, but their use lacks evidence in digestive diseases.

Aim

This study aims to explore digestive disease studies that use telemedicine to effectively manage disease activity, help monitor symptoms, improve compliance to the treatment protocol, increase patient satisfaction, and enhance the patient-to-provider communication.

Methods

EBSCO, PubMed, and Web of Science databases were searched using Medical Subject Headings and other keywords to identify studies that utilized telemedicine in patients with digestive disease. The PRISMA guidelines were used to identify 20 research articles that had data aligning with 4 common overlapping themes including, patient compliance (n?=?13), patient satisfaction (n?=?11), disease activity (n?=?15), and quality of life (n?=?13). The studies focused on digestive diseases including inflammatory bowel disease (n?=?7), ulcerative colitis (n?=?4), Crohn’s Disease (n?=?1), irritable bowel syndrome (n?=?6), and colorectal cancer (n?=?2).

Results

From the studies included in this systematic review, patient compliance and patient satisfaction ranged between 25.7–100% and 74–100%, respectively. Disease activity, measured by symptom severity scales and physiological biomarkers, showed improvements following telemedicine interventions in several, but not all, studies. Similar to disease activity, general and disease-specific quality of life showed improvements following telemedicine interventions in as little as 12 weeks in some studies.

Conclusion

Telemedicine and mobile health technology may be effective in managing disease activity and improving quality of life in digestive diseases. Future studies should explore both gastrointestinal and gastroesophageal diseases using these types of interventions.

     

Mobile Health and Diabetes: Integration of a Mobile-Integrated Therapy with Electronic Health Records: Lessons Learned

Background:

Responses to the chronic disease epidemic have predominantly been standardized in their approach to date. Barriers to better health outcomes remain, and effective management requires patient-specific data and disease state knowledge be presented in methods that foster clinical decision-making and patient self-management.Mobile technology provides a new platform for data collection and patient–provider communication. The mobile device represents a personalized platform that is available to the patient on a 24/7 basis. Mobile-integrated therapy (MIT) is the convergence of mobile technology, clinical and behavioral science, and scientifically validated clinical outcomes. In this article, we highlight the lessons learned from functional integration of a Food and Drug Administration-cleared type 2 diabetes MIT into the electronic health record (EHR) of a multiphysician practice within a large, urban, academic medical center.

Methods:

In-depth interviews were conducted with integration stakeholder groups: mobile and EHR software and information technology teams, clinical end users, project managers, and business analysts. Interviews were summarized and categorized into lessons learned using the Architecture for Integrated Mobility^® framework.

Results:

Findings from the diverse stakeholder group of a MIT–EHR integration project indicate that user workflow, software system persistence, environment configuration, device connectivity and security, organizational processes, and data exchange heuristics are key issues that must be addressed.

Conclusions:

Mobile-integrated therapy that integrates patient self-management data with medical record data provides the opportunity to understand the potential benefits of bidirectional data sharing and reporting that are most valuable in advancing better health and better care in a cost-effective way that is scalable for all chronic diseases.     

ANALYSIS: Mobile Phones Integrated into Diabetes Management: A Logical Progression

In this issue of Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology, the intervention described by D. Katz, “Novel Interactive Cell-Phone Technology for Health Enhancement,” uses cell phones to provide the rapid communication necessary for the support of intensive management of diabetes. Mobile technology is widely accepted in today''s society and can be an effective tool for this cause. There have been numerous interventions using various communication tools, including cell phones, to manage chronic disease, which all propose that improved communication and feedback to patients would improve health status. Dr. Katz has taken the next step by giving semiautomated, real-time, immediate feedback on each data point all transmitted by cell phone.