Value-based wellness programs for patients with metabolic syndrome

HealthInsight, provider of the leading health incentive platform, today announced a new addition to its value-based wellness programs for patients with metabolic syndrome. The program is designed to detect and manage the syndrome's symptoms before the condition becomes chronic, thereby allowing individuals to take preventive action and manage their overall health while reducing on-going treatment costs.

“Given the typical American lifestyle, there are a large number of people who are impacted by metabolic syndrome”

Individuals affected by metabolic syndrome are easily identified through HealthInsight's automated system that analyzes results of biometric screening data and a health questionnaire combined with basic lab data. This process allows for the identification of a large portion of the general population at increased risk and, through intervention, they can be made aware of the importance of treating the syndrome as well as instituting lifestyle changes that address this increased level of risk.

"Given the typical American lifestyle, there are a large number of people who are impacted by metabolic syndrome," said HealthInsight Medical Director Dr. Joseph Renders. "By detecting symptoms early in these individuals and enrolling them into our program, we can quickly get them on the path to wellness. We firmly believe that preventive care is the foundation for staying healthy and our value-based programs provide the tools and technologies to reduce costs and improve employee wellness."

Metabolic syndrome is a group of medical disorders that increase the risk for coronary artery disease, stroke and Type 2 diabetes. Symptoms include high blood pressure, fasting hyperglycemia, decreased HDL cholesterol, elevated triglycerides and extra weight around the waist. Treatment includes suggested lifestyle changes, such as increased physical activity and reduced caloric intake and/or the use of medication to reduce blood pressure and LDL cholesterol. HealthInsight's on-line coaching programs are designed to help individuals get physically fit while learning how to eat healthy and manage their weight.

About 47 million adults that account for nearly 25 percent of adult population in the United States have metabolic syndrome (Source: AHA/ NHBLI Scientific Statement on Diagnosis and Management of the Metabolic Syndrome, Sept. 2005). Patients with metabolic syndrome are at twice the risk of developing cardiovascular disease over the next 5 to 10 years as individuals without the syndrome. Having this syndrome also confers a five- fold increase for developing type 3 diabetes.

More than 150,000 individuals are currently engaging in HealthInsight's value-based programs in the United States today. Solaris Health Systems Solaris Health System, a major New Jersey based hospital system, has been using HealthInsight's value-based health programs for more than a year and has seen a 17 percent cost reduction among employees participating in the program.