Virtual gastrointestinal solutions can improve symptoms for patients with irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease, as well as lower net healthcare spending, according to a recent report from the Peterson Health Technology Institute (PHTI).
PHTI is an independent evaluator of digital health solutions. The report was done in collaboration with clinical advisors and experts in gastroenterology, health economics and health technology assessment. The researchers interviewed patients with GI conditions and analyzed the clinical and economic impact of digital gastrointestinal solutions across two categories:
- Wraparound solutions: Programs that complement existing GI care with nutrition counseling, gut-brain behavioral health support and symptom tracking. These include companies Cylinder Health and Digbi Health.
- Clinician-led solutions: Programs that integrate gastroenterologists with other clinicians and support services to provide multidisciplinary care. These include companies Ayble Health, Oshi Health and Salvo Health.
The analysis found that wraparound solutions improve symptoms and quality of life for patients with IBS compared to usual care, but found no evidence for patients with IBD only. It also found that wraparound solutions decrease net spending for patients with IBS by $1,889 per year per patient in the commercial market.
Clinician-led solutions, meanwhile, improve symptoms and quality of life for patients with IBS and/or IBD compared to usual care. For patients with moderate-to-severe IBD and those with IBS, it saves $2,901 per user on average.
“This is PHTI’s sixth evaluation of a digital health category, and the findings for this GI evaluation stand out in an important way,” Caroline Pearson, executive director of the Peterson Health Technology Institute, told MedCity News. “For the first time, we’re seeing real healthcare savings in the thousands of dollars per engaged patient, compared with savings in the hundreds for categories we previously evaluated, such as digital hypertension or musculoskeletal care. That combination — meaningful clinical improvement alongside substantial cost savings — represents the strongest value proposition we’ve observed so far in digital health.”
These findings come as GI conditions affect one in five U.S. adults and represent about $112 billion in annual healthcare spending. IBS and IBD can cause chronic symptoms and have a negative impact on physical health, mental health, quality of life and productivity, and gastroenterology has some of the longest wait times in healthcare.
The report has important implications for purchasers, digital health companies and policymakers, according to Pearson. For purchasers, the evidence supports broader adoption of virtual GI solutions, but purchasers must balance patient needs, access to specialists and costs when choosing between lower-cost wraparound programs for IBS and higher-priced clinician-led options that can treat both IBS and IBD.
For policymakers, the findings prove the potential for virtual care to close access gaps, Pearson added. Lastly, for digital health companies, the analysis shows that “evidence matters more than ever,” she stated.
“While the clinical results are encouraging, most studies still have short follow-up periods, and we have limited data on long-term outcomes, performance across diverse populations, and effectiveness at different stages of disease,” Pearson said. “Companies that invest in stronger evidence — and align pricing with sustained outcomes rather than short-term engagement — will be far better positioned in the market.”
Photo: claudenakagawa, Getty Images
