mPAD: digital health solutions to support treatment adherence and smoking cessation among patients with peripheral artery disease

Funded by the Danish Heart Foundation, the mPAD project targets patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). In Denmark, the prevalence of adults living with PAD increased by 68% between 2000 and 2018. PAD is associated with a 40% mortality risk after diagnosis, while advanced disease, including critical limb ischaemia, has a one-year mortality rate close to 50%. Although adherence to guideline-recommended therapy can reduce major cardiovascular and limb events by 40% and improve life expectancy by up to six years, poor treatment adherence remains a major challenge.

Mobile applications offer a potentially cost-effective and scalable solution and have previously been identified as acceptable by patients with PAD. The mPAD project will therefore co-create and evaluate a mobile app designed to improve treatment adherence and support smoking cessation among patients with PAD, while also identifying sustainable pathways for integrating the solution into Danish healthcare.

The Danish Centre for Motivation and Behaviour Science (DRIVEN), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark (SDU), will contribute expertise in behavioural science and digital health. Specifically, DRIVEN will support Work Packages 1 and 2, focusing on the co-creation process and the feasibility study.