Impact of a digital health platform in improving PSA and blood pressure levels in members living with cancer and co-morbid hypertension in Nigeria: A retrospective analysis.

Abstract

e13728 Background: Cancer and hypertension are major causes of significant morbidity and mortality, globally. More specifically, studies have reported that hypertension may be associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer. The growing availability of smartphones and other mobile devices have led to the widespread adoption of digital health technologies for managing chronic diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. mDoc’s omni-channel platform, CompleteHealth offers solutions to its members for managing chronic conditions by combining health monitoring with personalized support from a multidisciplinary team (MDT) of coaches. This study examines the impact of this digital health intervention on blood pressure (BP) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in members living with cancer and hypertension. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted between January 2021 and December 2024 of 65 men living with cancer and hypertension enrolled on CompleteHealth™. The average age was 70 years old, and 63% had pre-diagnosed hypertension. Interventions included regular virtual coach check-ins for self-care management, medication reminders, and nudges to log health metrics. PSA and BP readings were collected at baseline and during follow-ups at 3 and 6 months, categorized into intervals of 0–3 and 4–6 months. Results: All 65 members had at least one interaction from their coach, averaging seven interactions per week, 95% of which were text-based messages. PSA Outcomes: 81% (53) had baseline PSA readings, and 79.2% (42) logged follow-up PSA readings with 49% (26) showing improvement with an average reduction of 32.7 ng/mL. At 0-3 months, 34% (18) members logged PSA readings, with 72% showing improvement with an average reduction of 18.6 ng/mL. At 4–6 months, 43% (23) members logged PSA readings, with 65% showing improvement with an average reduction of 35.2 ng/mL. BP Outcomes: 100% had baseline BP readings, averaging 130.6/80.8 mmHg. 90% (59) logged follow-up BP readings, averaging 127.9/77.8 mmHg, resulting in an average reduction of 2.7 mmHg systolic and 2.9 mmHg diastolic. BP control improved from 54% at baseline to 77% post-intervention. 69% (41) of members logged at least one follow-up BP reading during each 3-month interval. At 0–3 months, 78% (51) of members provided BP readings, with 84% achieving control. At 4–6 months, 72% (47) of members provided readings, with 91.5% achieving control. Conclusions: Our findings highlighted the effectiveness of digital health interventions in improving PSA and blood pressure outcomes among individuals living with prostate cancer, emphasizing the potential of self-care and out-of-facility interventions to enhance chronic disease management.