Abstract P186: Current practices and interest in mobile health among individuals with or at risk for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

Abstract

Background: The integration of smartphones, mobile health (mHealth) apps, and digital therapeutics into healthcare has transformed remote monitoring and patient-provider communication. Such technologies are currently underutilized, but could provide value to those in need of more frequent monitoring. Pregnant individuals with or at risk for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) could potentially benefit from this technology. Methods: Pregnant individuals, ages 20-50, with a diagnosis of or risk factors for HDP, were recruited from a large academic medical center from June 2020 to January 2024 to complete an electronic survey. Data on sociodemographic variables, smartphone/wearable device use, health app and patient portal (MyChart) use, and interest in mHealth apps were collected. Statistical analysis was done using STATA/BE 18.0. Results: Of the 103 participants, the mean age was 31.9 (SD 5.5) years, 44.6% were Hispanic or Black, and 98.1% used smartphones ( Table ). Individuals over age 30 had lower smartphone use than those under 30 (p=0.04) and most with a smartphone had mhealth apps (64.4%). Interest in wearing a smartwatch for remote monitoring and communicating with providers via a secure mhealth app was high among participants (88.3% and 78.6% respectively). No significant differences in these interests were observed by race, age, and residence (urban/suburban vs. rural). Conclusion: Pregnant individuals with or at risk for HDP demonstrated high interest in using mhealth applications and smartwatches for communication with providers and remote monitoring. Effectively integrating these technologies into patient care may enhance access to and increased engagement with care among individuals with high-risk pregnancies.