Digital Health and Rheumatology
- Colin Pfeiffer
- Jul 31, 2020
- 2 min read
Overall survival results of a randomized trial assessing patient-reported outcomes for symptom monitoring during routine cancer treatment.
Summary: 399 patients self-enrolled in a totally-digital feasibility study for rheumatoid arthritis. All marketing and enrollment was handled digitally, with patients using their own smartphones to utilize a customized Apple ResearchKit app. 87% of patients reported joint pain, and severe joint pain was linked to reduced wrist movement range as measured by the app. However, after 12 weeks, only 45 patients (11.3%) remained active in the study.
Providing ‘the bigger picture’: benefits and feasibility of integrating remote monitoring from smartphones into the electronic health record: Findings from the REMORA Study
Summary: 54 total patients took part in a combination feasibility-development study, designed to prototype an app that collects patient-reported rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and integrates the data into the patient’s electronic health record. Patients noted the ease of using the app, while also commenting that the app made their symptoms feel “seen.” Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms are not consistent and may not be present upon a clinic visit. At-home monitoring allowed patients to express symptoms as they occurred.
Self-assessment Tool of Disease Activity of Rheumatoid Arthritis by Using a Smartphone Application
Summary: 65 Japanese patients with RA used a smartphone app to record daily rheumatoid symptoms. The mobile survey was a modified version of the DAS28-CRP(4) questionnaire, a commonly used RA assessment tool that measures disease activity and symptoms. The app also measured trunk linear accelerations during a 15 meter walk, accomplished by patients holding their smartphone close to the center of the body. Patients’ electronic responses to the DAS28-CRP(4) were then used to calculate self-assessed swollen and tender joint counts, correlated at p < 0.001 for both measures.
Cloudy With a Chance of Pain: Engagement and Subsequent Attrition of Daily Data Entry in a Smartphone Pilot Study Tracking Weather, Disease Severity, and Physical Activity in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Summary: A British study attempted to match RA patients’ symptoms with weather conditions in the patient’s surrounding area. Continuous monitoring would also track daily movements. 20 patients utilized two smartphone apps- one recording symptoms such as pain and mood, the other recording weather data based on the patient’s GPS location. Mean completion of daily data entry after 2 months was 68%. However, the weather tracking app was a massive drain on smartphone battery and continuous monitoring could not be performed.
Apps for People with Rheumatoid Arthritis to Monitor Their Disease Activity: A Review of Apps for Best Practice and Quality
Summary: A team of researchers identified 19 apps, available on the iTunes and Google Play stores, intended for rheumatoid arthritis patients. Apps included a range of functionalities. 8 included at least one ACR and EULAR-recommended RA disease score measure. Only one app included a disease score measure and tracked data. This search was limited to only apps available in New Zealand, but the method should be applicable to other geographic regions.
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