Personalized support programs with innovative digital tools to manage and monitor patients suffering from epilepsy: EpiOnApp case study

Abstract

Epilepsy is one of the most common serious chronic neurological diseases affecting around 50 million people globally and 500,000 patients in Italy. It causes uncontrollable, unprovoked, and unpredictable seizures that reduce the quality of life of those afflicted. It is widely recognized that the most important strategy for controlling seizures and enhance well-being includes receiving and adhering to anti-seizure medications as well as making appropriate lifestyle adjustments. However it is estimated that 30–60% of patients do not adhere to their antiepileptic medication regimens. EpiOnApp is a digital Patients Support Program (PSP) designed to empower patients with epilepsy who are taking Cenobamate for their chronic condition to take control of their health care pathway, from inception throughout the duration of the treatment, and to have a meaningful dialogue with their neurologist by sharing health records and emotional states. Moreover, as patients may have limited mobility, they can order their therapy and have it home delivered in a very easy way, and they can benefit from continuous human support through the figure of a dedicated Care Manager. The advantage for the neurologist is that the platform stores seizure data, facilitating the drug titration and better assessing at the time of the follow-up visit. The efficacy of the program is currently being evaluated. So far, the level of satisfaction expressed by patients and neurologists shows that a well-designed and tailored PSP can address the challenge of improving long-term adherence, helping people with epilepsy through the on-boarding and initial treatment period, reducing discontinuation, and ultimately, delivering a better health outcome.