The empower-sustain mobile and desktop apps© : cardiovascular e-health interventions for patients with metabolic syndrome

The prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) and the associated cardiovascular (CV) risk factors in the Malaysian population has escalated over the past decades. This has resulted in the rising CV morbidity and mortality including in the younger age groups. Exponential use of mobile phones unlocks the potential to transform CV risk factors management in primary care using electronic health (ehealth) technology. Most of these apps were developed in the Western countries and high-income Asian countries such as Japan and South Korea which might not suit the needs of Malaysian local population. To our knowledge, there is no e-health self management mobile or desktop app which has been developed to suit individuals with MetS in Malaysia. To develop and evaluate the EMPOWER-SUSTAIN e-Health Self Management Apps© for individuals with MetS in primary care. The EMPOWER-SUSTAIN Mobile App© empowers patients to take charge of their own health to prevent heart attack and stroke. Using this desktop app, the receptionist can register a patient and the nurse can enter check-up data which include anthropometric measurements and investigation results. Information entered into the EMPOWER-SUSTAIN Desktop App© will sync with the EMPOWER-SUSTAIN Mobile App©. During consultation, the doctor will use the desktop app to check the information entered by the receptionist and the nurse and use the mobile app to empower patients with knowledge and skills to self-manage their conditions at home. The EMPOWER-SUSTAIN Mobile and Desktop Apps© are the first comprehensive tools developed in Malaysia, to be used by health care providers and patients to manage multiple cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, overweight, obesity and smoking.