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Smartphone app improves readmission rates after MI
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Patients with MI using a cardiology smartphone app had significantly lower rates of hospital readmissions, according to new data presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Cardiovascular Summit in Las Vegas.
The “Corrie” digital platform, the first cardiology app for the Apple CareKit platform, was designed to simplify the navigation of hospital discharge and transition to home after MI.
“We have found there are many gaps in care in patients recovering from a heart attack,” William Yang, MD, a resident in internal medicine at Johns Hopkins University, said in a press release. “We wanted to engage patients in their own care and help them transition from the hospital to home using existing technology.”
Among other things, the app enables patients to keep track of medications, follow-up appointments and lifestyle changes after discharge for MI, according to the release.
The researchers conducted a prospective, observational study enrolling 60 patients with acute MI (mean age, 58 years; 70% men) hospitalized at Johns Hopkins Hospital and Johns Hopkins Bayview.
Those who owned compatible iPhones (50%) downloaded the Corrie app while those not owning an iPhone (50%) were provided a loaner iPhone with the app preloaded.
Additionally, each patient was fitted with a loaner Apple Watch, which was returned after 30 days.
The outcome of interest was 30-day readmissions.
Among the cohort using the Corrie app, 5% were readmitted within 30 days vs. a 19% risk-adjusted rate for all patients with acute MI at Johns Hopkins Hospital, which Yang and colleagues wrote represents a savings of $259,000 in readmission penalties.
“We’re really encouraged by the results so far,” Yang said in the release. “We think this is a readily scalable program. We’re already working with several other hospitals who are very interested in bringing ‘Corrie’ to their institutions.”– by Dave Quaile
Disclosure: Cardiology Today could not confirm relevant financial disclosures at the time of publication.