Retrospective observational study reveals reduced HbA1c and body weight with personal health record use in type 2 diabetes, indicating enhanced digital self-management.
Key Points
To evaluate the impact of personal health record application use on long-term glycemic management and body weight in patients with type 2 diabetes, and to identify factors associated with HbA1c reduction.
Conducted a single-center, retrospective observational study involving 154 patients with type 2 diabetes (76 personal health record users and 78 non-users) between April 2022 and June 2024.
Tracked HbA1c, body weight, nutritional support, and medications at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months, defining 12-month change in HbA1c as the primary outcome and body weight change as the secondary outcome.
Performed multivariate regression analysis within the app-user group to identify factors independently associated with HbA1c changes.
Personal health record users experienced a significantly larger reduction in HbA1c over 12 months than non-users (−0.6 ± 1.2% vs. −0.1 ± 0.6%; p = 0.005).
Body weight decreased significantly more in the app group than in the control group over 12 months (−2.8 ± 3.8 kg vs. −0.5 ± 3.3 kg; p < 0.001).
Multivariate regression analysis revealed that nutritional support was independently associated with improved HbA1c among personal health record users.