Abstract
Background: Information and communications technology–based tailored management (TM) intervention is a novel automatic system in which a smartphone app for the management of patients with hypertension and diabetes, the provider web, and Bluetooth devices are linked. However, little evidence exists regarding the cost-effectiveness of the interventions using mobile apps. Objective: This study aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of TM intervention for adult patients with hypertension or diabetes in primary care compared with usual care (UC). Methods: Cost-effectiveness analysis using a Markov model was conducted from the Korean health care system perspective. Based on 6-month outcome data from an information and communications technology–based tailored chronic disease management (ICT-CM) trial, effectiveness over a lifetime beyond the trial periods was extrapolated using a cardiovascular disease risk prediction model. Costs were estimated using ICT-CM trial data and national health insurance claims data. Health utility weights were obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Results: In the base-case analysis, compared with UC, TM was more costly (US $23,157 for TM vs US $22,391 for UC) and more effective (12.006 quality-adjusted life-years [QALYs] for TM vs 11.868 QALYs for UC). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was US $5556 per QALY gained. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis showed that the probability of TM being cost-effective compared with UC was approximately 97% at an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio threshold of US $26,515 (KRW 35 million) per QALY gained. Conclusions: Compared with UC, TM intervention is a cost-effective option for patients with hypertension or diabetes in primary care settings. The study results can assist policy makers in making evidence-based decisions when implementing accessible chronic disease management services.
Original language | English |
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Article number | e51239 |
Journal | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
Volume | 26 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2024 |
Keywords
- applications digital health
- artificial intelligence
- cost-effectiveness analysis
- diabetes mellitus
- hypertension
- mHealth
- mobile health
- mobile phone
- primary care
- smartphone application