This Men’s Health Month, we’re exploring how Remote Patient Monitoring can help men manage chronic conditions. It is widely studied and known that men often do not seek routine, preventive medical care. Did you know nearly 40% of men only see their providers once a condition has become severe? RPM is helping providers nationally reach their male patients like never before by eliminating the barrier of appointment scheduling, taking time from work for appointments, and managing information sharing between multiple specialists. At Ceras Health, our RPM solution offers enrolled patients 24/7 symptom monitoring and a seamless feedback loop between their wearable health device data, provider, and our clinical care team. Ceras Health’s RPM program is helping male patients manage 3 of the top chronic conditions they often experience.
3 Chronic Conditions Men Experience a Higher Risk for than Women
1. Heart Disease
Heart disease, the leading cause of death worldwide, poses a significant health concern for men, who face a higher risk than women. Approximately one out of every four male deaths in the United States in 2020, totaling 382,776, was attributed to heart disease. Heart disease encompasses various conditions affecting the heart, including coronary artery disease and heart failure. Common symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, and dizziness. Effective management of these conditions involves essential lifestyle changes such as adopting a healthy diet, engaging in regular exercise, quitting smoking, as well as medication and regular monitoring of blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
The Ceras Health Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) program allows our partner providers to monitor and evaluate a patient’s heart health wherever they are. By simplifying the tracking of vital signs like blood pressure, pulse rate, and oxygen saturation levels, the Ceras RPM program Care Coordinators and AI-enabled platform can identify warning signs and contact partner providers to intervene when needed. Ceras RPM enables physicians to identify warning signs promptly and intervene when necessary. RPM also facilitates the sharing of educational resources, empowering men to actively participate in managing their heart condition from the comfort of their homes.
2. Hypertension
Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, stands as a significant risk factor for heart disease and stroke. It accounted for over 670,000 deaths in the United States in 2020, with men being more prone (50%) to hypertension compared to women (44%). Regular monitoring plays a vital role in detecting and managing hypertension since it often presents with no noticeable symptoms or warning signs, further emphasizing the need for preventative care visits. Non-adherence to medication therapy is also a prevalent issue among hypertensive patients, creating a barrier to achieving adequate blood pressure control.
To address these challenges, Ceras offers our 4G-enabled blood pressure monitor that helps patients take their blood pressure daily and share this information automatically with our Care Coordinators. This real-time sharing of blood pressure data notifies our clinical team of abnormal readings, facilitating prompt interventions and patient communication. This, in turn, reduces the risks associated with hypertension in men's health.
3. Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic condition characterized by elevated blood sugar levels. It is more prevalent in males than females, particularly type 2 diabetes, and often goes undiagnosed in men. Symptoms include increased thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, and blurred vision. Effectively managing diabetes necessitates lifestyle adjustments and continuous monitoring, which can be facilitated through RPM-style platforms. RPM allows for continuous glucose monitoring via a continuous glucose monitoring device such as Dexcom or Freestyle Libre and helps keep patients and providers alike aware of the patients’ glucose trends. It also enhances communication between patients and providers, allowing for improved glycemic control.
At Ceras, our clinical monitoring team and mobile application help patients not only identify adverse glucose trends, but also provide diabetes-related education materials and rewards to patients for learning about their condition. Studies have shown that implementing RPM for diabetes patients results in lower HbA1c levels faster when compared to standard care.
At Ceras, we’re excited to be offering RPM for all our patients, and pleased to be making condition management easier for all of our patients. As we continue offering this service, we’re eager to see more men leverage RPM services to manage their conditions before they become chronic.