研究顯示,為期 12 週的數位健康計劃能夠幫助非酒精性脂肪肝患者在九個月後持續減少肝臟脂肪,並改善心臟代謝健康。探索此計劃的研究結果。
此研究由 Sigridur Bjornsdottir 等人發表於《Circulation》期刊,探討了一項為期 12 週的數位健康計劃對非酒精性脂肪肝(NAFLD)患者的持續影響。這項計劃通過 Sidekick 應用程式進行,重點包括疾病教育、低碳水化合物飲食、增加活動量、壓力管理及生活方式指導等,旨在改善 NAFLD 患者的肝臟和心臟代謝健康。本研究的結果顯示,在計劃結束後的六個月維護期內,患者仍保持了一定的健康改善。
研究團隊假設心臟代謝健康的改善可以在主動健康計劃結束六個月後持續下去。研究設計為前瞻性、開放標籤、單組的研究方法,參與者進行了為期 12 週的數位健康計劃,並接受了疾病教育、飲食控制、運動增強和壓力管理的指導。篩選參與者的標準包括 BMI > 30、有代謝症候群或 2 型糖尿病,並通過 FibroScan 評估進行 NAFLD 檢查。數據收集涵蓋人口統計、身體組成、臨床指標、MRI 檢測肝臟脂肪含量、雙能 X 射線吸收測量法(DXA)檢查身體組成,並進行血液檢測。基線測量於 12 週和九個月後進行。
在 12 週計劃結束後,參與者進入了六個月的維護期,停止了新的教育材料及健康教練服務,但保留了應用程式的使用權限,並以周期性方式提供教育內容。這種設計旨在觀察健康改善的持續性。
總共有 38 名參與者被納入此研究,其中 34 名(89%)完成了為期 12 週的數位健康計劃,而其中 28 名(83%)完成了九個月後的最終隨訪。參與者的中位年齡為 59.5 歲(IQR 46.3–68.8),其中 60.5% 為女性。為了應對隨訪過程中的缺失值,研究採用了基線數據延伸的方法(Baseline Observation Carried Forward)來進行數據填補。統計數據顯示了參與者的健康指標在基線、12 週和九個月的變化,並進行了靈敏性分析以確保這些變化並非藥物影響的結果。
研究結果顯示,參與者在九個月後仍保持了顯著的健康改善。以下為具體的結果指標:
體重減少:平均體重減少 4.0 公斤(SD=5.0,p<0.001),並伴隨脂肪質量下降 5.2%(SD=10.0,p<0.001)。
肝臟脂肪減少:MRI-PDFF 測量顯示,參與者的肝臟脂肪含量平均相對減少 18.4%(SD=30.5,p<0.001)。
血壓降低:收縮壓平均下降 8.3 mmHg(SD=13.4,p<0.001),舒張壓下降 2.5 mmHg(SD=6.0,p=0.015)。
腰圍減少:參與者的腰圍平均縮小 4.7 cm(SD=7.1,p<0.001)。
值得注意的是,儘管在維護期內未提供新內容及教練支援,患者在體重、肝臟脂肪含量、血壓及腰圍方面仍保持了顯著的健康改善。靈敏性分析確認了這些變化並未受到藥物變動的影響。
然而,在三酸甘油酯水平方面,參與者在之前的改善並未在九個月後維持,這可能與該指標的變化速度或個人代謝反應有關。研究還顯示,於最後一週仍有 50%(19/38)參與者活躍使用該應用程式,表明數位平台對患者參與度的支持作用。
數位健康計劃在結束後六個月仍能保持健康改善效果,這一發現顯示出數位健康計劃在 NAFLD 患者健康管理中的潛力。儘管指導內容停止,但患者仍能從周期性內容中受益,並持續在日常生活中實踐自我管理的健康行為。參與者在體重、肝臟脂肪、血壓和腰圍的改善上持續顯著的效果表明,數位平台不僅能支持健康改善的達成,還能幫助患者在維護期內維持這些改善,為 NAFLD 患者提供一種新型的健康管理工具。
本研究結果指出,為期 12 週的數位健康計劃在 NAFLD 患者中具有可行性,並且在計劃結束後的六個月內仍能持續提供健康改善效果。儘管指導內容已結束,患者的體重、肝臟脂肪含量、血壓及腰圍均顯著改善,顯示出數位健康平台的持續支持效果。研究結果還顯示,數位平台不僅是一種有效的健康改善工具,還能在無需額外人力支持的情況下幫助患者自我管理,並在日常生活中延續健康改善的行為。
這項由 Sidekick Health 贊助的研究,為未來數位健康計劃在 NAFLD 和其他慢性疾病患者中的應用提供了重要的數據支持。通過強調自我管理和健康維持,數位健康平台可以成為疾病管理的重要組成部分,特別是在減少臨床干預需求和提升患者生活品質方面具有潛力。這些發現為 NAFLD 患者及醫療服務提供者提供了新視角,並表明持續使用數位健康平台可以幫助患者在日常生活中實踐健康行為,進而改善並維持整體健康。
Abstract
Originally Published 16 May 2024
Free Access
Abstract MP17: Sustained Improvements in Liver Fat Reduction and Cardiometabolic Health at Nine Months After a 12 Week Digital Health Program in Individuals With Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease - A Feasibility Study
Sigridur Bjornsdottir, Hildigunnur Ulfsdottir, Elias F Gudmundsson, Bartosz Dobies, Kolbrun Sveinsdottir, Ari P Isberg, Gudlaug Bjornsdottir, Sigurdur Sigurdsson, Saemundur Oddsson, and Vilmundur GudnasonAuthor Info & Affiliations
Circulation
https://doi.org/10.1161/circ.149.suppl_1.MP17
Abstract
Introduction: Behavioral changes can improve health outcomes, but maintaining improvements can be challenging. A 12-week digital health program for Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) was previously shown to be feasible in terms of patient engagement, program retention, and improvements in clinical markers of liver and cardiometabolic health. Here, we report on retention and clinical measurements after a 6-month maintenance program.
Hypothesis: We hypothesized that improvements in cardiometabolic health can be sustained six months beyond an active program’s duration.
Methods: A prospective, open label, single arm, 12-week long study was first conducted, where a digital health program was delivered through the Sidekick app with emphasis on disease education, lowering dietary carbohydrates, increasing activity levels, reducing stress and lifestyle coaching. Individuals with either BMI>30, metabolic syndrome or type 2 diabetes were screened for NAFLD with a FibroScan assessment. Data collection included demographics, anthropometric and clinical measurements, MRI-PDFF for liver fat content, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry for body composition and blood tests. Measurements were done at baseline, 12 weeks and nine months. Once the 12-week program concluded, a six-month maintenance program was initiated with no new educational materials and the health coaching ceased. During the maintenance program the participants retained access to the app with recurring educational content. Summary statistics were calculated for all participants who started the health program. Missing values at follow-up were imputed using baseline observation carried forward.
Results: In total, 38 individuals were included in the study and 34 (89%) completed the 12-week program, of which 28 (83%) attended the third and final follow-up visit at nine months. The median population age was 59.5 [IQR 46.3,68.8] years and 23 (60.5%) were females. At month nine the mean weight loss compared to baseline was 4.0 kg (SD=5.0) (p<0.001) with 5.2% (SD=10.0) reduction in fat mass (p<0.001). The average relative liver fat reduction was 18.4% (SD=30.5) (p<0.001). Systolic blood pressure decreased by 8.3 mmHg on average (SD=13.4) (p<0.001), diastolic blood pressure by 2.5 mmHg (SD=6.0) (p=0.015) and waist circumference by 4.7 cm (SD=7.1) (p<0.001). According to a sensitivity analysis the observed changes were not explained by changes in medication. Previous changes in triglyceride levels were not maintained. In the final week, 50% (19/38) of the users were retained in the app.
Conclusion: This study suggests that improvements after a 12-week digital health program can be sustained at nine months despite coaching cessation. We observed sustained improvements for weight loss, liver fat, blood pressure and body composition. This approach could provide a new tool to obtain and maintain improvements in NAFLD.