Lessened decline in physical activity and impairment of older adults with diabetes with telemedicine and pedometer use: results from the IDEATel study

Abstract

Objective: to examine the effects of the Informatics for Diabetes Education and Telemedicine (IDEATel) telemedicine intervention and pedometer use on physical activity (PA) and impairment in older adults with diabetes.

Design: randomised clinical trial. Subjects ethnically diverse medically underserved Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes (n= 1,650).

Methods: participants received home videovisits with a diabetes educator every 4-6 weeks or usual care. All received a pedometer. Annual measurements included hemoglobin A1c, Comprehensive Assessment and Referral Evaluation Activities of Daily Living, Diabetes Self-Care Activities, Charlson Comorbidity Index, Luben Social Support and pedometer use. Mixed model analyses were performed using random effects to adjust for clustering within primary care physicians.

Results: in the telemedicine group compared with the usual care group, the rate of decline in PA (P= 0.0128) and physical impairment (PI) (P= 0.0370) was significantly less over time. Significant mean endpoint differences were observed for PA (P= 0.003). Pedometer use was significantly associated with PA (P= 0.0006) and PI (P< 0.0001). Baseline characteristics associated with greater PA included having fewer comorbid conditions (P= 0.0054), less depression (P< 0.0001), more social networking (P< 0.0001), lower BMI (P< 0.0001), male gender (P< 0.0001) and lower hemoglobin A1c level (P= 0.0045). Similar predictors were observed for PI, except duration of diabetes also predicted increased impairment (P< 0.0001). Significant indirect effects were observed through use of the pedometer on reduced decline in PA (P= 0.0024, 0.0013) and PI (P= 0.0024, P< 0.0001).

Conclusions: this telemedicine intervention reduced rates of decline in PA and impairment in older adults with diabetes. Pedometers may be a helpful inexpensive adjunct to diabetes initiatives delivered remotely with emerging technologies. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT 00271739.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00271739.