Table 2.
Baseline Characteristics of Engaged Heart Failure Patients Versus Nonengaged Intervention Heart Failure Patients
| CHARACTERISTIC | ENGAGED HEALTH BUDDYa | NONENGAGEDa | P VALUEb |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of patients | 230 | 393 | |
| Demographics | |||
| Mean age (years) | 76.90±8.79 | 79.84±9.08 | <0.001 |
| Male | 141 (61.3%) | 212 (53.9%) | 0.074 |
| Under 65 years of age | 12 (5.2%) | 16 (4.1%) | 0.505 |
| Baseline comorbiditiesc | |||
| CHF-related comorbidities | |||
| Anemia | 42 (18.3%) | 71 (18.1%) | 0.952 |
| Anxiety, somatoform disorders, and personality disorders | 12 (5.2%) | 12 (3.1%) | 0.176 |
| Chronic atherosclerosis | 97 (42.2%) | 136 (34.6%) | 0.060 |
| Chronic liver disease | 1 (0.4%) | 2 (0.5%) | 1.000 |
| COPD | 81 (35.2%) | 127 (32.3%) | 0.459 |
| Dementia | 3 (1.3%) | 6 (1.5%) | 1.000 |
| Depression | 14 (6.1%) | 12 (3.1%) | 0.068 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 92 (40.0%) | 170 (43.3%) | 0.427 |
| Hypercholesterolemia | 21 (9.1%) | 31 (7.9%) | 0.589 |
| Hypertension | 115 (50.0%) | 194 (49.4%) | 0.878 |
| Malnutrition | (0.0%) | 2 (0.5%) | 0.534 |
| Cancer | 58 (25.2%) | 94 (23.9%) | 0.716 |
| Myocardial infarction | 12 (5.2%) | 13 (3.3%) | 0.241 |
| Ocular disorder | 81 (35.2%) | 136 (34.6%) | 0.877 |
| Osteoporosis and osteoarthritis | 5 (2.2%) | 6 (1.5%) | 0.545 |
| Peripheral vascular disease | 19 (8.3%) | 36 (9.2%) | 0.703 |
| Renal failure | 26 (11.3%) | 53 (13.5%) | 0.430 |
| Respiratory failure | 10 (4.3%) | 10 (2.5%) | 0.218 |
| Cerebrovascular disease | 12 (5.2%) | 24 (6.1%) | 0.646 |
| Valvular heart disease | 29 (12.6%) | 31 (7.9%) | 0.054 |
| Obesity | 1 (0.4%) | 10 (2.5%) | 0.062 |
| Thyroid disorder | 12 (5.2%) | 25 (6.4%) | 0.560 |
| Sleep disorder | 6 (2.6%) | 3 (0.8%) | 0.083 |
| Pneumonia | 29 (12.6%) | 48 (12.2%) | 0.885 |
| Overall health indicators | |||
| Mean adjusted Elixhauser comorbidity index | 1.99±1.40 | 1.92±1.23 | 0.867 |
| Mean HCC score | 2.63±1.03 | 2.51±0.93 | 0.236 |
| End stage renal disease | 2 (0.9%) | 6 (1.5%) | 0.717 |
| Exclusionary comorbidity | 18 (7.8%) | 37 (9.4%) | 0.500 |
| Cost categories | |||
| Mean total healthcare costs | $21,471±$23,492 | $18,882±$22,152 | 0.186 |
| Resource utilization | |||
| All-cause resource utilization | |||
| Mean number of all-cause inpatient visits | 0.87±1.10 | 0.85±1.19 | 0.519 |
| Mean number of all-cause outpatient visits | 15.98±12.16 | 13.97±12.75 | 0.005 |
| Mean number of all-cause ED visitsd | 1.18±1.44 | 1.35±1.76 | 0.453 |
| Mean number of all-cause healthcare provider visitse | 27.12±21.13 | 23.74±17.91 | 0.066 |
| CHF-related resource utilization | |||
| Mean number of CHF-related inpatient visits | 0.15±0.48 | 0.19±0.53 | 0.170 |
| Mean number of CHF-related ED visitsd | 0.17±0.52 | 0.19±0.57 | 0.533 |
Patients “engaged” the Health Buddy if they inputted information into the Health Buddy device at least once during the study period. Otherwise they were classified as “nonengaged.”
Univariate comparisons of central tendencies used Wilcoxon tests for continuous variables and chi-squared tests for categorical variables.
Baseline comorbidities were diagnosed based on at least two claims with the related ICD-9 codes, excluding laboratory or radiology claims.
Emergency department (ED) visits were defined by claims in an institutional setting (inpatient and outpatient) with revenue center code '“045.”
Healthcare provider visits were defined as services (excluding lab-related) provided by physicians, physician assistants, and nurses in any noninstitutional setting.
CHF, congestive heart failure; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; HCC, hierarchical condition categories.