Perx Health app linked to high medication adherence in older adults using real-world data
This was a retrospective observational cohort study using real-world data from 250 adults aged ≥65 years who used the Perx Health mobile app in Australia and the United States. The study had no comparator group and followed participants for a median of 595.5 days (IQR 206.3–1,182.8).
The primary outcome was medication adherence, which was high, with a median of 95.0% (IQR 85.3–98.3). Secondary outcomes included app engagement and retention patterns. Retention was also high, with a median duration of 595.5 days (IQR 206.3–1,182.8). Engagement with leaderboards was reported in 62.5% of users, and engagement with streak tracking was 26.5%; both were noted as higher than the overall Perx user population.
Safety and tolerability were not reported; no adverse events, serious adverse events, or discontinuations were documented. Key limitations include the retrospective observational design, real-world data from a specific app user group, and the absence of a comparator group. The study's certainty is limited by its single-app, real-world evidence, which may not generalize to other populations or apps.
In practice, these findings suggest that mHealth solutions with social and gamified elements may support self-management in older adults, but the association does not prove causation. Clinicians should interpret these results cautiously, recognizing the observational nature and limited generalizability.
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