Apps

Evidence-based patient-to-clinican app to help support increasing burden of gestational diabetes

Drayson Health, in collaboration with the University of Oxford and the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, has received positive results from a study into the safety and effectiveness of GDm-Health™, a digital therapeutic product powered by smart algorithms for the treatment of gestational diabetes. The results were published in JMIR Mhealth and Uhealth following a 21-month study (NCT01916694).

The 203-patient randomised control study demonstrated equivalent glycaemic control between the GDm-Health group and the control group and statistically significant improvements in patient satisfaction with care; adherence to blood glucose monitoring and reduction in caesarean sections.

Dr Lucy Mackillop, Consultant Obstetric Physician at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and lead author of the paper and clinical lead for the development of GDm-Health said: “GDm-Health was developed in partnership with patients, clinicians and engineers. This trial was conducted in real-world conditions within the NHS and demonstrates the potential utility of GDm-Health to improve care and outcomes for women with gestational diabetes and their babies.”

Lord Drayson, Chairman and CEO of Drayson Health, commented: “We are delighted with these clinical trial results, which underline the GDm-Health product’s safety and efficacy in improving patient outcomes in gestational diabetes. The progress we are making in our partnership with Oxford University and Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to develop clinically validated software applications powered by artificial intelligence is very encouraging. Our focus now shifts to working with regulators to make GDm-Health widely available across the UK and internationally, helping to improve maternal and neo-natal outcomes as prevalence of diabetes in pregnancy continues to increase.”

The trial was made possible by funding and scientific input from the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, whose Technology and Digital Health Theme is led by Professor Lionel Tarassenko, Head of Engineering Science, University of Oxford. He commented: “This trial is another example of how self-management by patients using digital health tools can be secure, gives them greater control of their condition and reduces the number of times they have to visit clinic. It improves communication between patient and clinical staff, reduces the amount of time spent by nurses and midwives on administrative tasks and allows for accurate auditing of data about care and outcomes.”