EVALUATION OF TELEMEDICINE PROGRAM (ITHACA)- INNOVATION IN THE TREATMENT OF ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION INCREASING THE COMPLIANCE AND ADHERENCE
Author(s)
Sicras-Mainar A1, Ibañez J1, Frias X1, Bulto C1, Costa A2, Majos N2, Lahoz R21Badalona Serveis Assistencials, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain, 2Novartis Farmaceutica, Barcelona, Spain
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate effectiveness of an interventional strategy (disease management program (DMP)) supported by a telemedicine platform in patients with mild/moderate hypertension METHODS: Quasi-experimental design, paired data with control group (1:2, patients were matched by age and gender). Study population and follow-up period: patients from 6 primary care centers in Badalona (Barcelona, Spain) were followed-up during 2011. Study groups: intervention group (telemedicine program) and control group (usual clinical practice). The intervention consisted on establishing a permanent channel of interaction with the patient (telemedicine platform) and providing the patient with educational materials, clinical monitoring, SMS, phone calls, etc. Main measures: Demographic, co-morbidity, anthropometric and biochemical parameters, adherence to treatment, blood pressure control (BP: 140/90 mmHg), associated healthcare management costs and satisfaction surveys to professionals and patients. Statistical significance:p<0.05. RESULTS: A total of 750 patients were included (intervention group n=250, control group n=500). Mean age was of 64.2 years old 52.1% of patients were women. The control group was selected to show an optimal comparability in terms of demographic and morbidity measures between the two groups. The intervention group showed better compliance (87.9% vs. 71.4%, p=0.001). BP control was 52.5 vs. 53.1% (p=NS) initially and 63.2% vs. 55.6% at the end of the study (p<0.001) for the intervention group vs. control, respectively. The follow-up average cost per patient and year was € 377.9 vs. € 442.4, p<0.001 (reduction in intervention group: 66 €). 82% of health care professionals and 91% of patients were satisfied with the DMP. CONCLUSIONS: The DMP has improved adherence to treatment and BP control and has reduced health care management costs. If the study results were extrapolated to the overall population of Badalona, a potential saving of 1.7 million per year would be achieved.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2012-11, ISPOR Europe 2012, Berlin, Germany
Value in Health, Vol. 15, No. 7 (November 2012)
Code
PHS56
Topic
Patient-Centered Research
Topic Subcategory
Adherence, Persistence, & Compliance
Disease
Cardiovascular Disorders, Respiratory-Related Disorders