By Dr Suhas Patil
Chronic diseases Like hypertension and diabetes are also called lifestyle diseases. So, treating these diseases would seem as simple as changing your behavior and improving your lifestyle, wouldn’t it? But as we can all agree, knowing is not the same as doing. When it comes to exercising and eating right, you know you should be doing it, but how hard is it to make sure you do it consistently? Behavior change is complex. It requires consistency and constant nudging to make it an implementable reality.
You may have the next blockbuster therapy in your pocket
Digital Therapeutics (DTx) is an innovative concept that offers powerful and exciting possibilities in healthcare. Its use through a simple tool like a smartphone allows for precision in therapy and personalization of treatment. As we transition to value-based care, DTx plays a critical role in that. DTX refers to the use of digital technology to facilitate disease prevention, treatment and management. Using smartphones, wearables and health monitoring devices, patients can self-report their health parameters and receive advice from a team of healthcare experts for treatment adherence and behavior modification. When combined with conventional drug-based therapies, DTx can help patients manage chronic diseases independently. All this at your fingertips, on your own smartphone.
Research studies show improved patient outcomes
A recent study by fable – A chronic Disease management (CDM) a Bangalore-based start-up, established the effectiveness of digital therapy in the management of hypertension (high blood pressure). An intervention program was designed, in which participants adopted the Phable application for 12 weeks for daily management of their health. DTx interventions include dietary modification, physical activity, patient education, self-monitoring, and stress management.
At the end of 12 weeks, participants lowered their blood pressure by an average of 28/19 mmHg from a baseline reading of 155/127 mmHg to 127/82 mmHg. Among participants, 67.6% returned to controlled blood pressure levels
Widespread public adaptation of Phable’s DTx application, when integrated with primary healthcare, may be effective in reducing high blood pressure in patients with uncontrolled hypertension. If the use of DTx is continued for a long time, medications, frequent hospital visits and corresponding costs can be avoided.
Advantage DTX
Digital therapeutics have many advantages, the biggest of which is the lack of side effects, unlike drugs. Its benefits also extend to the prevention and easy management of other health problems related to primary conditions such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular diseases. On a personal level, DTx can help you manage your health from the comfort of your home, with just one device that we use throughout the day. Incredibly, managing chronic diseases is no more difficult than using social apps.
In India, DTx has tremendous utility and scope, given that the healthcare infrastructure is still underdeveloped, skewed more toward urban centers, and out of reach for large segments of the population. With India expected to have 1 billion smartphone users by 2026, with the effective use of DTx, we are poised to make healthcare accessible, affordable and effective for all.
Dr Suhas Patil, Director – Medical Strategy, Fable
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