It has become almost cliché to hear that there is an app for almost everything but in reality, it is probably true. Most people are actually unaware of the fact that there probably is an app for a chronic condition they may be suffering.
At the moment the number of health apps is greater than 165,000 reports IMS Health, a company that tracks data for health care. The greatest number of apps track fitness and wellness but almost 25% have been developed for consumers looking to monitor a specific condition, as a reminder to take medication, to help patients function better or for the transmission of information to health care providers.
It is apparent why there is such a need for medical apps. As of 2012, almost half of all Americans were said to suffer from at least one condition that is considered chronic with almost one-quarter with at least two different conditions. This is according to information released by the CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While currently an app hasn’t been developed for all conditions, a great number of people are able to utilize apps that are currently on the market. This includes consumers with conditions such as asthma, diabetes, mental health conditions like depression and anxiety as well as for heart disease.
There is a wide range of pricing when it comes to healthcare apps. Some are priced higher than $100 while others can be found for free. Even so, those that cost more can often save money for the consumer using them.
As an example, Proloquo2Go and TouchChat which were developed for sufferers of autism disorders can assist users who are unable to communicate well with their voices. Apps such as these use technology that is evidence based such as alternative and augmentative communications. Referred to as ACC, this methodology enables users to better communicate. There are currently two versions of TouchChat that are priced at $150 for one version and $300 for the other. Proloquo2Go is priced at $250 and both can be a cost effective replacement for more conventional devices that are priced in the thousands of dollars and are actually not as convenient.
There are a number of free healthcare apps but these are designed for use with specific equipment and devices such as ECG equipment and glucose meters. If a device is designed to monitor health measures that are important, these apps must have prior approval from the FDA, the Food and Drug Administration. There are ways to determine whether or not an app has been approved by the FDA which includes checking the connected device literature or information found on the app store where the app is made available.
The question is, are these apps effective? To date the evidence is inconclusive because research on apps for medical use is limited. However, mobile app trials numbering approximately 300 are currently underway. This is according to information reported by IMS Health. Upon being released, the clinical findings might better assist physicians to prescribe healthcare apps for their patients as a result of those found to work best. This practice is promising but still in infancy stages.
Until such time as more information becomes available, existing apps are available for the following four conditions considered to be chronic. The apps currently on the market can help patients better manage their conditions. Following is information on those four conditions and apps that are highly rated.
COPD and Asthma Apps
Similar to diabetes, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and asthma routinely need to be tracked. One app that utilizes a small-sized device that attaches to the patient’s inhaler is Propeller Health. This is used to track and record each time the patient uses the inhaler and where the inhaler was used. The app can also send a daily medication reminder and send an alert to the patient and the patient’s doctor if symptoms get worse.
Alternatives that don’t use sensors include Asthma MD and AsthmaTrack. These provide the patient with the ability to manually enter information such as that used above. Then the patient can discuss the data on his or her next visit to the doctor.
Apps to Track Diabetes
Among a great number of other diseases and conditions, diabetes needs to be continually tracked and logged. This type of condition can be served well with an app designed for this purpose. The Journal of Medical Internet Research published a study finding that an app in conjunction with a blood sugar monitoring device actually saw a glycemic control improvement in adults suffering from Type 1 diabetes.
The FDA often regulates apps developed for diabetes and according to the report mentioned above, all apps used with Android and iOS devices have been cleared for use. The report released by IMS Health states that the FDA approved app that ranked highest was developed by MySugr GmbH. The app is called Diabetes Logook and is free but there are available purchases that can be made through the app. A second option by Azumio is Glucose Buddy and this allows manual glucose levels to be entered by the user when taken from their current monitor. Each of these are able to track glucose and food as well as to be set to give daily reminders.
Apps Developed for Mental Health
As the largest classification within apps for specific conditions, mental health is the largest category. The majority of apps developed for mental health have been designed to help manage stress and offer techniques to help users with behaviors promoting enhanced quality of life.
One such app is offered for free and is called Big White Wall. This app assists users to better express themselves within an internet community and also to help them self-assess. This app also comes with professional support twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. In Flow is another app that enables the user to track moods and is said to be user-friendly and easy to use. Another popular app designed to help with stress management is called the Stress & Anxiety Companion that provides a small amount of tech assistance to help you relax.
Apps for America’s Most Common Chronic Condition – Heart Disease
With so many sufferers of heart disease in America, there is a huge number of apps to help manage the conditions. There are some apps that are used in conjunction with devices, such as the portable ECG by AliveCor or the heart monitor released by BodyGuardian. The devices themselves are priced higher than $200 but they can transmit directly to the doctor any information they gather, update records as needed and at times even replace visits to the doctor in person.
Patients suffering from heart disease are often required to take several types of medication throughout the day and as a result, an app that can be customized to give reminders would be quite useful. Those that have been highly rated are NPS MedicineWise and Medisafe which also let the patient connect through their smartphone directly to their pharmacy to refill medications and to ask questions of their pharmacist.
Since there are so many health apps available, those suffering from chronic conditions may want to check their online app stores to see if there is one designed for their particular diagnosis. If one is not available at this time, there is hope that an app may soon be available.
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