mHealth Use in Managing Hemophilia

Hemophilia, a genetic bleeding disorder characterized by a clotting factor protein deficiency. Intake of prophylaxis medication (replacement of clotting factor) at young age remains a promising treatment in preventing prevent bleeding, allowing persons with Hemophilia to live a fuller life with fewer constraints. However, with the introduction of mobile health (mHealth) apps has opened up a new way to manage bleeding diseases. The revolutionary mobile technology holds more potential hemophilia management due to various advantages like cutting-down the communication gap between the health care professional and patient, reducing hospital visits, maintaining treatment-record, and connecting with the “approved” hemophilic social-network. The implementation and shift to mHealth mobile apps is highly assisted by the World Health Organization (WHO) is raising awareness of the inherent potentials in mHealth among individuals.

Technology and increasing acceptance of the mHealth apps in treatment has transfigured the patient care. Treatment diaries, web-based applications, and other electronic apps has resulted into a shift from manual treatment diaries to online tracking, increasing adherence on these apps for timely infusion practices and setting up the reminders. Through this whitepaper, DelveInsight is representing the growing use of mHealth in boosting the management/treatment scenario of hemophilia.

Many tech-giants are working progressively to expand the market of mHealth to empower and improve the self-care in patients. There are many key players operating in hemophilia management with intend of transforming treatment such as MicroHealth inc., Pfizer inc., Bayer Healthcare, Hoffmann-La Roche, BioRX, Shire US Inc., Novo Nordisk Inc., StatConsult, and many more.

Mobile or web-based applications were created to address certain features of contemporary hemophilia treatment, also to promote a specific pharmaceutical product. However, before using the applications, objective and crucial information sheets on these specific elements must be developed to adequately raise awareness among patients about the apps potential drawbacks. For instance, MicroHealth app, which was launched in 2011, helps patients with care management by allowing users to create reminders to track and share personal health data with care team members, including images. However, the research over the use of mHealth in the management of Hemophilia patients has progressed over the years in order to address the challenges associated with using mHealth monitor therapy in Hemophilia patients are primarily due to a lack of data and comprehension of this new tool, while a second component is primarily due to issues with the technology itself.