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Weight Loss in a Digital Diabetes Prevention Program for People in Health Professional Shortage and Rural Areas
Sarah A Graham1, Lisa A Auster-Gussman1, Kimberly G Lockwood1
1Lark Health, Mountain View, California, USA.
Population Health Management
|April 28, 2023
Summary
Digital diabetes prevention programs effectively reduce type 2 diabetes risk in underserved areas. These remote programs show similar weight loss outcomes regardless of geographic barriers, offering a viable solution for hard-to-reach populations.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Digital Health
- Diabetes Prevention
Background:
- Individuals with prediabetes in underserved areas face significant barriers to accessing traditional in-person preventive health services.
- The National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) aims to reduce type 2 diabetes risk, but accessibility remains a challenge in remote or underserved regions.
- Limited data exists on the clinical outcomes of digital DPPs specifically for populations facing geographic and socioeconomic disadvantages.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of residing in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) and urban/rural location on weight loss outcomes in a fully digital DPP.
- To compare clinical outcomes, retention rates, and demographic characteristics of members in a digital DPP based on geographic designations.
Main Methods:
- A large cohort of 7,266 members of the Lark DPP, a fully digital program, was analyzed.
- Participants were categorized based on their residence in HPSAs and urban versus rural areas.
- Statistical analyses compared percent weight loss, program retention, and member characteristics across these geographic groups.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant differences in percent weight loss were observed based on HPSA designation (P=0.16) or rural/urban status (P=0.15).
- Despite facing greater barriers (higher BMI, lower income/education), members in HPSAs and rural areas achieved comparable weight loss to others.
- Mean percent weight loss ranged from 4.55% to 4.96% across all analyzed geographic subgroups.
Conclusions:
- Fully digital DPPs demonstrate effectiveness in achieving weight loss outcomes irrespective of HPSA or urban/rural designation.
- Digital DPPs provide an accessible and equitable solution for diabetes risk reduction in underserved and hard-to-reach populations.
- These findings support the scalability and efficacy of digital health interventions for widespread diabetes prevention.
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