Real-world impact of physical activity reward-driven digital app use on cardiometabolic and cardiovascular disease incidence

Abstract Background The lack of effective tools available to health providers for enhancing patient physical activity prompts this study to examine the real-world impact of a physical activity reward-driven app on health outcomes, utilizing Electronic Health Records (EHR) data from Israel’s largest...

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Main Authors: Adi Berliner Senderey, Tom Mushkat, Ofer Hadass, Daphna Carmeli, Samah Hayek, Marie-Laura Charpingnon, Eyal Jacobson, Ran D. Balicer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-03-01
Series:Communications Medicine
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s43856-025-00792-z
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Summary:Abstract Background The lack of effective tools available to health providers for enhancing patient physical activity prompts this study to examine the real-world impact of a physical activity reward-driven app on health outcomes, utilizing Electronic Health Records (EHR) data from Israel’s largest healthcare organization. Methods Conducting a retrospective cohort study, we matched app-users to non-users based on demographic and clinical characteristics. Results App-users have a significantly lower risk of cardiovascular disease (HR 0.95), stroke (HR 0.91), and type 2 diabetes (HR 0.82) compared to non-app users. Higher levels of physical activity among app users further reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease (HR 0.87), stroke (HR 0.84), and type 2 diabetes (HR 0.75) compared with non-app user. However, engagement in mild physical activity, as measured by step count, does not differ from non- users in the incidence of these conditions. Conclusions These findings highlight the potential of app-based interventions to promote higher levels of physical activity and mitigate major vascular and metabolic illnesses.
ISSN:2730-664X