Health apps can help older adults lower blood glucose, improve medication management

By Erica Techo/UGA Today

Mobile health apps could help improve health among older adults with diabetes, according to a study by researchers at the University of Georgia and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

The study found health apps helped older adults with diabetes manage blood glucose levels and adhere to medication protocols. It’s a promising sign for a population that can be often overlooked when it comes to technology.

“Even though you can make an argument that older adults are the primary group utilizing health resources, with the exception of rare conditions, they are oftentimes not the intended audience when designing and implementing mobile health apps,” said Renato Ferreira Leitao Azevedo, lead author of the study and an assistant professor in the UGA College of Public Health.

Health app users saw overall decrease in blood glucose levels

The researchers conducted a meta-analysis, screening more than 4,000 papers and selecting seven randomized controlled trials that specifically looked at health app use by older adults with diabetes. Health apps ranged in design but often included educational materials and health- and habit-tracking capabilities. The combined sample included 490 participants.

One of the most significant results, Azevedo said, was the reduction in glycated hemoglobin, or HbA1c, levels. Older adults utilizing a health app saw about a 0.4-point drop in these levels.

Although the numerical effect appears modest … such a change could shift an individual from the prediabetic range to a normal diagnostic range.”

— Renato Ferreira Leitao Azevedo, College of Public Health

 “Although the numerical effect appears modest, it holds clinical significance. Within the American Diabetes Association thresholds, such a change could shift an individual from the prediabetic range to a normal diagnostic range,” Azevedo said.

Apps linking users with health care providers were especially effective in reducing HbA1c levels, the meta-analysis found.

Taking medication as prescribed is vital in managing chronic conditions, such as diabetes, but only two studies looked at this outcome. Even so, results suggest the apps can help older adults stay on track with their medications, Azevedo said.

However, data also suggests that health apps may lose effectiveness over time, as people slow or stop their use. This underscores the need to explore strategies to incentivize long-term use, Azevedo said.

Tailoring future health apps to older population could enhance health results

This study is especially promising, Azevedo said, because many of the health apps were not specifically tailored to an older population.

“If digital technologies, such as mobile health apps, are co-designed with older adults and tailored to account for their individual differences and needs, the promising outcomes observed in our study could be expected to be further enhanced,” he said.

This project was funded in part by the National Institutes of Health (National Institute on Aging) through the CREATE (Center for Research and Education on Aging and Technology Enhancement) – Pilot Grant Program.

Published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, the study was co-authored by Michael Varzino, Erika Steinman and Wendy Rodgers of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.