Diabetes Risk Assessment Algorithm in Health Improvement App Quealth gains high level clinical validation

Diabetes Week

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Diabetes Week -- ROADTOHEALTH, the UK company behind award-winning health application Quealth, has announced the successful clinical validation of the accuracy of its diabetes health risk assessment algorithm. The validation work on the diabetes risk assessment algorithm is just one element of the exhaustive clinical testing the Quealth team is conducting on all its risk predictors (see also Quealth).

Quealth gives smartphone owners the chance to assess their risk of developing type 2 diabetes, six forms of cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (lung disease) and dementia. It is available free via Apple's App Store, Google Play, the Samsung Galaxy App Store and Lenovo's newly released App Explorer.

The proprietary algorithms at the heart of the app calculate an individual's risk of developing these diseases based on answers they give to a series of questions covering areas such as family history, medical history, environment, biometrics and lifestyle. Depending on their 'Quealth Score' - a number between 1 and 100 - the app then provides evidence-based content and coaching drawn from the latest behavioural change science to drive lifestyle improvements. Future releases will also incorporate live biometric data from hundreds of different mobile apps and wearable devices.

Quealth's diabetes, cardiovascular disease and lung disease risk algorithms have been validated so far, and all achieve Area Under Curve (AUC) values - a globally-recognised measure of how accurately they predict clinical outcomes - of between 0.77 and 0.80. These values approach the maximum predictive capability possible for a questionnaire-based assessment and are directly comparable to - and in many cases higher than - other internationally-recognised and respected disease risk prediction algorithms. The remaining algorithms, for dementia and six different forms of cancer, are currently in the process of clinical validation.

The clinical validation is being conducted with Dr Stephen Weng of the University of Nottingham's Division of Primary Care within the School of Medicine. He is a member of roadtohealth's Academic Expert Panel, which is led by Quealth Clinical Lead and Head of Clinical Governance Paul Nash.

Paul Nash said: "Our three-dimensional clinical validation programme ensures that Quealth accurately assesses health risk, delivers evidence-based health content and effectively drives positive, sustainable changes in health behaviours. The fact that the first three of our health risk algorithms have been so rigorously tested by top academics and emerged as amongst the most accurate health risk predictors available anywhere, makes us extremely proud. It also makes us even more determined to keep Quealth at the top of its game, helping people all around the world live longer, healther lives."

In addition to Dr. Weng, the Quealth Academic Expert Panel comprises of clinical specialists Leo Pemberton BSc Hons RD MBDA (Diet and Nutrition), Dr Graham Cope of the University of Birmingham (Smoking), Dr Dale Esliger of the University of Loughborough (Physical Activity and health content) and Dr Jonathan Ward of Breaking Free (Alcohol).

Quealth has been developed on the back of roadtohealth's 14 years experience of providing risk assessment technology for health information, pharmacies and insurance companies from all around the world. Given the rigorous clinical governance, Quealth is now one of the most highly validated health management apps available today.

Quealth www.quealth.co is the most accurate health and lifestyle app available. It assesses your health risk status, coaches you to improved health and wellbeing and rewards your successes. Quealth combines the latest behavioural change science with the global reach of technology to encourage you to make lifestyle changes and live a longer, healthier life. Based on the award-winning and highly validated Quealth™ Score - a universally recognised and trusted predictor of health risk - Quealth focusses on the prevention of five leading non-communicable diseases: diabetes, six forms of cancer, cardiovascular disease, dementia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Quealth is owned by the roadtohealth group, an internationally-recognised health risk assessment and lifestyle management company. Formed in 2002, roadtohealth has successfully developed an international footprint by partnering with global brands including Aviva, Samsung, Patient.info and HSBC.

All products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Keywords for this news article include: Antidiabetic Agents, Cancer, Quealth, Therapy, Dementia, Oncology, Algorithms, Cardiology, Technology, Diabetes Risk, Lung Diseases, Brain Diseases, Risk and Prevention, Cardiovascular Diseases, Respiratory Tract Diseases, Central Nervous System Diseases, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.