A large pharmaceutical client sought to determine whether a wellness app designed for glucose monitoring, meal tracking, and nutritional coaching could meaningfully reduce A1c levels in patients with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). Beyond clinical outcomes, the client hypothesised that integrating the app into patient care could lower healthcare costs associated with T2D management and overall wellness. Additionally, they aimed to assess the commercial viability of payer-supported wellness app adoption in patient treatment plans.

Symphony Health, an ICON plc company, leveraged Synoma® integration to link laboratory results, claims, and app usage data, enabling longitudinal patient tracking. By utilising open datasets to establish a closed dataset based on patient stability panels, Symphony Health created a robust foundation for analysis. 

The Symphony Health team defined the study cohort using strict inclusion and exclusion criteria and applied propensity score matching to ensure comparability between app users and non-users. A comprehensive research framework was developed, including study protocols, a statistical analysis plan (SAP), and a structured study report.

The study demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in A1c levels among T2D patients using the wellness app as a supplement to standard care. Additionally, the findings provided valuable insights into the economic benefits of wellness app integration, reinforcing its potential to reduce the financial burden of Diabetes management. 

By establishing a clear link between digital health engagement and improved clinical outcomes, this research supports the case for payer-backed wellness app adoption. The results also set the stage for future Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR) studies, helping to shape new standards of care in digital health innovation.