In April of 2020, Propeller data demonstrated that medication adherence among patients with asthma and COPD using our digital health platform increased by 14.5% during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. (The published study can be found here.)
Due to national COVID-19 guidelines at the time, individuals with underlying conditions such as asthma and COPD were strongly advised to shelter in their homes to limit their exposure to the virus. The measured uptick in medication adherence – observed between January and March of 2020 – may have reflected patients’ concerns for their health in response to these guidelines.
But how did this initial observed improvement hold up over the course of 2020?
According to data presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress 2021, early improvements in controller medication adherence steadily increased among 20,908 Propeller users throughout 2020.
In the last week of January 2020, before the designation of a global pandemic, mean adherence was at 55%. As the year progressed, Propeller continued to observe an upward trend with a peak of 62% in the last week of November.
Propeller data also suggested an increase in the proportion of patients who adhered to their medications. The proportion of patients exhibiting at least 75% daily adherence increased from approximately 47% to 56% between January and December of 2020.
There is no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we approach healthcare delivery and monitoring. The data presented here suggests that digital health may help promote positive health behaviors among people with chronic conditions.
To learn more about how Propeller can help your patients adhere to their medications, even beyond the pandemic, please reach out to us at provider@propellerhealth.com.