Vitality Group Inc.

New research (https://lnkd.in/gtpVd8hx) has found that deaths from dementia have tripled over the last two decades, and the chances of dying from dementia have increased among every demographic group studied. While age is the most significant risk factor for dementia, the Lancet Commission on Dementia (https://lnkd.in/g7Vjqbxz) found that nearly half of dementia cases may be preventable by 14 modifiable risk factors. Physical inactivity, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, and social isolation all have been found to play a role.  With new evidence pointing to a stronger link between healthy lifestyle habits and a reduction in risk of developing dementia, it’s more important than ever to help people develop healthy habits now to improve their long-term health. While it’s not easy to change these behaviors, we’ve built out extensive expertise in helping our members do so. It requires sophisticated personalization and leveraging behavioral science in an engaging member experience. It’s particularly important to engage the at-risk and seamlessly integrate condition management strategies, which can unlock significant health outcome improvements.  The evidence continues to mount on the downstream impact of lifestyle habits and primary prevention. Our validated Impact Study (https://lnkd.in/gi_EDB5Z) demonstrates that our program drives high levels of engagement that create behavior change, delivering ROI in the short term. This research and others show that the benefits of lifestyle change compound over time, creating a profound impact on the lives of our members, clients and society. It’s why our core purpose of “Making People Healthier” is so compelling.  

Pop quiz: what's one of the greatest global public health achievements of the 20th century?   If vaccinations aren’t on your mind, they should be. A new CDC report (https://bit.ly/3yOKhOO) finds that childhood vaccinations have prevented more than 500 million illnesses and 1 million deaths in the US alone since 1994, saving a whopping $540 billion indirect costs and $2.7 trillion in societal costs. And yet, as a society, we’re falling behind on vaccination adherence.   So ... what can we do to increase vaccine uptake?   It's clear that bombarding people with more data about scientific studies doesn’t help. Rather than thinking solely on the 'what', we need to be thoughtful on 'how' information is framed and disseminated. Behavioral science also offers solutions (https://bit.ly/4dTqSLB). Well-designed interventions can facilitate action through reminders, prompts and primes; reduce barriers through logistics and healthy defaults; and shape behavior through incentives, sanctions and requirements.   At Vitality, we’re all about leveraging behavioral science to help people live healthier lives. A recent analysis of our Discovery Health Medical Scheme members in SA found that Vitality members are almost twice as likely to get vaccinated as their non-Vitality counterparts, adjusting for age.     Interested in the science of behavior change and psychology? Let’s chat!

A recent study in JAMA Network Open found that fewer than 25% of patients with type 2 diabetes receive recommended chronic kidney disease (CKD) screening, with an association between individual factors, such as Hispanic ethnicity and comorbid cardiovascular disease, and lack of screening. Given that early CKD is asymptomatic, regular screening is essential. And notably, these patients are among those who had previously seen a clinician for their type 2 diabetes - and yet they still were not compliant with their screening recommendations. These findings speak to the importance of having an engagement strategy outside of moments in care to help patients adhere to screening recommendations. Vitality’s personalized approach to guiding members to their next best action exists to help identify and close these critical gaps in care. By understanding individual barriers and engaging our unengaged members with targeted education and encouragement, we can better support those who are unengaged, ensuring they receive the vital screenings and care they need to manage their health effectively. https://lnkd.in/ezZrwdB3

While it may seem like everyone has hopped on board the GLP-1 train, a recent WSJ article pointed out that seniors are still standing hesitantly on the platform. According to a May KFF poll, only 9% of seniors are taking GLP-1s, compared to 19% of those 50-64 years. While there are real barriers (lack of Medicare coverage) and risks (loss of muscle mass, increased risk of dehydration due to drug interactions), the potential benefits of GLP-1s for older adults should not be overlooked.  Weight loss is particularly important for seniors as it can aid in mobility and balance, making physical activity more attainable. But weight loss is not the only goal. Ultimately, we want seniors to establish healthy lifestyle habits, particularly being physically active. Vitality’s research – the Habit Index – in partnership with the London School of Economics, found that people 65+ who formed and sustained a habit of doing physical activity 3 or more times per week for three years saw a 52% reduction in their mortality risk. (This is a 15% greater reduction in mortality risk compared with those between 45 and 65 years!!) Whatever medically assisted therapies a Medicare beneficiary and their clinical teams are considering, wrapping that intervention with programs designed to establish sustained behavior change in terms of diet and movement – particularly weight-bearing exercises – is critical to overall health outcomes. Many payers have implemented wellness programs that focus on education; perhaps even structured interventions with coaching at the center. But without embedded behavioral science principles at each step – from enrollment to activation to engaged - weight management programs can fail to yield the kind of results payers are hoping for and their members will benefit from. As the recognized global leader in behavior change, Vitality Group Inc. has designed highly personalized health pathways that focus on next-best actions for each member, and we are helping our 40 million members across the globe improve their health, one step at a time. Not sure if your structured interventions for weight management are designed with the whole member in mind? Reach out – our team would be delighted to assess what you have in place today and help you design a program that meaningfully engages each beneficiary and drives the outcomes that matter.  https://lnkd.in/gMg_XqvW  https://lnkd.in/gAMBN9sg