Chronic diseases are the leading cause of death and disability in the United States. Two of the most common chronic diseases are diabetes and hypertension, which contribute to the nation’s $3.3 trillion in annual healthcare costs. Millions are plagued with these chronic illnesses but it is estimated that only half of hypertensive and diabetic patients have their blood pressure and blood glucose levels under control. Although there are distinctions between these two conditions, there are high rates of co-occurrence. With technology constantly evolving and expanding, more eHealth technologies should be utilized to assist patients in monitoring and keeping their condition under control.
Monitoring Disease States
Diabetes and hypertension can require frequent monitoring to ensure that your levels are in check. Monitoring and maintenance can include daily blood pressure checks, daily blood glucose checks, lifestyle modifications and pharmacologic treatment. Although diabetes and hypertension differ, they have some overlapping risk factors. More than 50% of patients with diabetes also present with hypertension. The use of technological approaches has been proposed as a means of improving chronic disease outcomes. Such approaches can facilitate medication administration scheduling to promote adherence, promote patient engagement, and provide support for patients who live in rural areas where healthcare providers are not readily available.
More than half of the US population have smart phones. There are applications available that can send you text message reminders, allow you to communicate with your provider through patient portals, and track clinical levels. Teleconferencing has become more widespread due to COVID-19 and is an effective use of technology in the healthcare world. Outside of COVID-19, teleconferencing has been used to overcome barriers in healthcare especially in rural areas. Several applications focus on conditions individually, but with conditions like diabetes and hypertension (where one could affect the other) it could be beneficial to have an application that addresses both. Both conditions have low medication adherence rates and can be highly affected by diet and exercise. These are all areas that eHealth could play a role in. Outside of smartphones, there are also other technology devices to aid in this such as smart watches which can track your vitals and help set goals for physical activity. eHealth interventions can encourage patients to take an active role in managing their conditions. The improved outcomes would not only aid in decreasing healthcare spending but it would also improve the patient’s quality of life.
