Healthy Ageing: A Decision-Support Algorithm for the Patient-Specific Assignment of ICT Devices and Services

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Digital Health
• Health Informatics

Background:

• Population ageing necessitates innovative solutions for active and healthy ageing.
• Current digital platforms often lack comprehensive coordination for older adults' health and social care needs.
• Personalized healthcare models are crucial for enhancing the quality of life for the elderly.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a decision-support algorithm for automatically assigning tailored digital devices and local services to older adults.
• To create a human-centered care model that addresses individual health and social needs.
• To prevent acute health events and reduce hospitalizations among the elderly.

Main Methods:

• A tree-like decision-support algorithm utilizing conditional control statements and binary divisions was developed.
• The algorithm assigns devices and services based on predictive factors of frailty, ICT device features, and patient characteristics.
• Validation involved comparing the algorithm's output with clinicians' decisions for 50 participants.

Main Results:

• The algorithm demonstrated high sensitivity in detecting needs (96% for fall monitoring, 93% for cardiac tracking).
• Specificity was lower (60% for fall monitoring, 27% for cardiac monitoring).
• Results indicate the algorithm's potential for preventive and protective healthcare behaviors.

Conclusions:

• The developed algorithm offers an efficient, patient-specific approach to personalized healthcare for older adults.
• It supports the goal of enabling elderly individuals to live independently at home.
• Further refinement may improve specificity for broader clinical application.