Mobile health apps could offer older adults with diabetes a valuable tool for managing their condition, according to a new study from the University of Georgia and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
The researchers analyzed more than 4,000 papers and identified seven randomized controlled trials, involving 490 participants, to assess the impact of mobile health apps. Results showed that app users experienced a modest but clinically meaningful reduction in glycated hemoglobin levels, about 0.4 points, enough to shift some individuals out of the prediabetic range.
Apps that connected users directly with health care providers proved especially effective, while some evidence suggested benefits for medication adherence as well. However, the study noted that effectiveness may decline as users reduce app engagement over time.
Researchers stressed that designing apps specifically with older adults in mind could further improve outcomes. The findings were published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research.