Is it plausible for technology to revolutionize the way we handle persistent medical conditions?
Chronic diseases like heart disease, stroke, cancer, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and arthritis are causing quite a headache for primary care providers. Is digital health technology the solution they've been searching for?
Approximately half of US adults have a chronic health condition, with associated treatment accounting for 86% of healthcare costs. Wireless technology, such as remote monitoring, mHealth apps, and wearables, promises to change the game in chronic disease management. But do any of these tools truly benefit healthcare professionals?
Medical News Today interviewed primary care and internal medicine specialists to find out how they integrate digital health technology into their practice and get their take on its potential revolution.
Remote Monitoring: An Early Success?
Primary care providers (PCPs) find remote monitoring of patients' vital signs and symptoms attractive, as it allows for early intervention when symptoms are detected. PCPs can actively engage patients in the monitoring process. Dr. Suzanne Falck, an associate professor of internal medicine at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, emphasizes heart failure management as a success story for remote monitoring.
Implanted sensors transmit data directly to healthcare professionals who can then advise about medication, lifestyle, additional clinic visits, or emergency room visits. Clinical trials have shown success in reducing hospitalizations for patients with cardiovascular implantable electronic devices. Moreover, remote monitoring has proven more cost-effective than conventional management.
Medical Apps on the Rise
As 77% of all US adults own smartphones, and around half own tablet computers, Dr. Judith Marcin, a family practice specialist in Chicago, points out that "mobile technology has the potential to make a huge impact on the management of chronic disease."
There are currently around 259,000 mHealth apps available, with around 56% aimed at consumers with chronic conditions, particularly diabetes, hypertension, chronic heart disease, and depression. Diabetes is seen as the therapy field with the most potential for mHealth apps, with clinical trials demonstrating a greater reduction in HbA1c in patients using an app to monitor blood glucose.
Wearable Trackers: Future or Fad?
Dr. Marcin highlights wearable technology and devices as exciting developments in digital health. With wearable devices being studied in various settings, we can expect portable cardiac monitors, EKGs, sleep cycle analyzers, and glucose monitors. Wearable tech has the potential to improve access to care, increase convenience, and boost compliance to diagnostic tests.
Wearable activity trackers like Fitbits have gained popularity, but their role in illness and recovery is not yet clear. Although 23% of US adults use activity trackers, the drop rate is high, with many abandoning them due to lack of use or boredom. Studies in the TRIPPA and IDEA have demonstrated limited impacts on blood pressure and weight.
Barriers to Access
All physicians interviewed highlighted concerns about lack of access to technology among underserved populations, particularly low-income families. The elderly, who are most likely to have multiple chronic conditions, are also poorly served. Up to 80% of an internal medicine specialist's patients speak Spanish, posing another barrier to using digital health apps.
Usability and Expectations
When adopting new technology, framing change as an improvement to patient care is important. New tools should be easy to use, understand, and learn, or both providers and patients will be reluctant to adopt them. Setting reasonable expectations and communicating the potential for temporary changes to routine is also essential.
New technology, if used appropriately, can greatly improve chronic disease management. Remote monitoring, mHealth apps, and wearables all offer benefits for patients and healthcare providers, but challenges remain, such as integration and interoperability issues. Future advancements in AI and interoperability aim to provide more holistic, user-friendly platforms for patients and healthcare professionals.
- The use of remote monitoring in managing chronic diseases like heart disease shows promise, as demonstrated by success in reducing hospitalizations for patients with cardiovascular implantable electronic devices.
- With the growing prevalence of smartphone and tablet ownership among US adults, mobile health (mHealth) apps have the potential to significantly impact the management of chronic conditions, particularly in therapy areas like diabetes.
- Wearable technology and devices, such as portable cardiac monitors and sleep cycle analyzers, are exciting developments in digital health, with the potential to improve access to care and increase convenience for patients.
- However, barriers to accessing technology, such as lack of availability among underserved populations and language barriers, pose challenges to the widespread adoption of digital health tools for managing chronic diseases and chronic conditions.
