The PhRMA Basis (PhF) awarded $500,000 grants to David G. Armstrong, DPM, MD, PhD, of the College of Southern California and Nino Isakadze, MD, MHS, of Johns Hopkins College to conduct analysis utilizing digital well being applied sciences (DHTs) to enhance well being fairness and well being outcomes for sufferers.
Armstrong and Isakadze have been chosen out of a gaggle of seven researchers awarded $25,000 planning grants in 2023 by the Basis to develop complete analysis proposals to review using DHTs for advancing affected person well being, particularly in underserved populations.
Digital well being applied sciences have nice potential to enhance well being care broadly, however they may very well be particularly impactful for underserved communities if we design and check them with fairness in thoughts. These research will have interaction numerous populations to develop digital well being options concentrating on remedy challenges for sufferers with diabetes and coronary heart arrhythmia.”
Amy M. Miller, PhD, President of the PhRMA Basis
Armstrong, a professor of surgical procedure and neurological surgical procedure at Keck College of Drugs of USC, will lead a venture that goals to enhance remedy for diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) utilizing particular good boots that relieve strain from particular areas of the foot. DFUs have an effect on 15% of sufferers with diabetes -; greater than 1 million individuals yearly -; and if inadequately handled, can result in amputation. People from racial and ethnic minority teams usually tend to develop DFUs, obtain amputations, and expertise issues, resulting in a decrease survival price.
Whereas strain offloading boots are thought of the gold normal of look after DFU, sufferers wrestle with utilizing them due to discomfort, aesthetics, and mobility restrictions. Armstrong’s crew seeks to enhance affected person outcomes with a brand new good boot design that enables for distant monitoring of affected person exercise and adherence to the remedy.
“This grant from the PhRMA Basis empowers us to reinforce our good offloading boots, tailoring them to suit the distinctive cultural and behavioral elements of minority populations who’re most in danger for hospitalization and amputation,” Armstrong mentioned. “Our venture is a step ahead in making state-of-the-art well being care accessible and equitable for all, notably these in underserved communities.”
Isakadze, a scientific cardiac electrophysiology fellow and incoming college at Hopkins’ College of Drugs, will lead a venture to check a digital well being intervention for the administration of atrial fibrillation (Afib), the most typical kind of coronary heart arrhythmia. Afib is related to poor high quality of life and elevated threat of stroke, coronary heart assault, and demise. Proof reveals that modifying threat elements reminiscent of weight, bodily exercise, and tobacco and alcohol use can scale back Afib burden.
Isakadze’s crew is working with numerous sufferers, clinicians, and key stakeholders to design and check an Afib care administration program that integrates 1) an Apple watch to trace coronary heart well being knowledge 2) a cell app to teach and empower sufferers in monitoring their well being and setting well being targets, 3) a clinician dashboard with affected person knowledge from the cell app and smartwatch, and 4) individualized weekly well being teaching to advertise adherence to the digital program.
“Receiving the PhRMA Basis grant will permit us to generate strong proof to assist using digital well being applied sciences to allow threat issue modification for numerous sufferers with Afib and bridge the vital hole in Afib administration,” Isakadze mentioned. “I’m assured that digital well being instruments have great potential to achieve individuals the place they’re and remodel well being care supply.”
