Effect of smartphone apps on glycemic control in young patients with type 1 diabetes: A meta-analysis.

Abstract

Objectives:

Achieving glycemic control is a great challenge for young patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D), especially during the transition from childhood to adulthood. As various smartphone apps have been developed to improve glycemic control in T1D, we performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to assess the effect of smartphone apps on glycemic control in young patients with T1D.

Methods:

We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for randomized controlled trials comparing combined usual care and smartphone app treatment to usual care alone. This meta-analysis is reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement. The primary outcomes were the weighted difference in means (WMD) of HbA1c change from baseline and the person-years incidence of mild hypoglycemia or severe hypoglycemia between intervention and control groups. We assessed pooled data by use of a random-effects model.

Results:

Of 1,190 identified studies, nine were eligible and included in our analysis (N = 748 participants). Relative to the control, using smartphone apps yielded a non-significant reduction in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (WMD = -0.26, 95% CI: -0.56 to 0.05; p = 0.10) and no increased frequency of mild hypoglycemia (WMD = 1.87, 95% CI: -1.52 to 5.27; p = 0.49) or severe hypoglycemia (WMD = -0.04, 95% CI: -0.35 to 0.27; p = 0.80). In further subgroup analysis, compared with the recording-style app group, the auxiliary-style app group exhibited a significant reduction in HbA1c (WMD = -0.83, 95% CI: -1.10 to -0.56, p < 0.001).

Conclusion:

The current pooled data analysis did not reveal a significant reduction in HbA1c in young patients with T1D undergoing treatment with smartphone apps and usual care in combination. However, auxiliary-style apps with insulin or carbo calculators were beneficial in reducing HbA1c.

• Authors: Linhua Pi, Xiajie Shi, Zhen Wang, Zhiguang Zhou
• Journal: Frontiers in public health (Front Public Health) Vol. 11 Pg. 1074946 ( 2023) ISSN: 2296-2565 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 37064701 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2023 Pi, Shi, Wang and Zhou.

Chemical References

• Blood Glucose
• Glycated Hemoglobin

Topics

• Adolescent
• Child
• Humans
• Young Adult
• Blood Glucose
• Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 (therapy)
• Glycated Hemoglobin
• Glycemic Control
• Hypoglycemia (prevention & control)
• Mobile Applications