We publish the results of the ADLIFE project in ‘NPJ Digital Medicine’
The article evaluates a digital solution to improve care for people with advanced chronic diseases across different European healthcare systems.
The scientific journal Nature Portfolio Journal Digital Medicine, part of the Nature group, has recently published the article “Assessment of the ADLIFE intervention as a digital solution for patients with advanced chronic diseases: a quasi-experimental trial”, which presents the results of the European ADLIFE project, coordinated by Biosistemak.
The study analyses the impact of a digital tool designed to improve care for people with complex chronic conditions, specifically patients diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and/or heart failure. ADLIFE is conceived as an integrated set of solutions combining clinical decision support, structured care plan management and tools for patient empowerment, with the aim of moving towards more coordinated and <strong>person-centred care models.
Researchers from the Institute contributed to the article, including Borja García-Lorenzo, Ania Gorostiza, Itxaso Alayo, Urko Aguirre, Nerea González, Igor Larrañaga, Dolores Verdoy, Ane Fullaondo and Esteban Manuel Keenoy, alongside a broad international consortium of organisations from Spain, the United Kingdom, Denmark and Israel.
The potential of digital health in chronic care
The multicentre study, involving a sample of 370 patients, compares the outcomes of people who used the ADLIFE solution with those of patients treated under standard care, applying advanced statistical models capable of analysing complex patterns of A&E use in chronic patients. The results show that the use of this tool is associated with a reduced likelihood of a first visit to A&E, suggesting its potential to prevent acute episodes and improve disease management in advanced stages.
However, the analysis also highlights that the impact of this type of intervention is not uniform, but depends largely on contextual and organisational factors. In this regard, the study emphasises the need to continue generating evidence in real-world settings and to adapt digital solutions to the characteristics of each healthcare system to maximise their effectiveness.
ADLIFE project is a European project funded by Horizon 2020 and running from January 2020 to November 2024. Against a backdrop of increasing longevity and the growing complexity of care, the project addressed key challenges such as promoting patient autonomy, supporting carers and contributing to the sustainability of health and social care systems.
