UK healthtech pioneer, my mhealth and collaborators awarded €2.5M Eurostars Grant for better heart health project.

28 April, 2021

Immersive cardiac rehabilitation app, myHeart uses behavioural feedback and gamification features to improve patient well-being.

NHS-approved digital therapeutics company, my mhealth, with 3 European collaborators, have been awarded a highly prestigious €2.5M Eurostars Grant for the development of their innovative project, CUOREMA. Eurostars is a European joint programme, co-funded from the national budgets of 36 EUREKA countries and by the European Union through Horizon 2020. As a UK funding body, Innovate UK will sponsor my mhealth Limited to develop part of its myHeart app to support cardiac rehabilitation in Europe.

Together with three accomplished European partners; Ospedale Malcantonese (OSCAM) (Switzerland), Games for Health (The Netherlands) and the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI) (Switzerland), the project aims to utilise the cardiac rehabilitation element of the myHeart app and incorporate biofeedback, intelligent algorithms and gamification features. During the three years of planning and development, the platform will be formally researched in the UK and several European countries through formal clinical trials.

The CUOREMA project will focus on developing a new, patient-centred and intelligent cardiac rehabilitation support system. The scalable, customisable, and flexible technology will provide a new systematic method of social and biological feedback from wearable devices, the app will include built-in behaviour change support systems, with mixed reality and immersive technology to improve medical adherence and clinical outcomes.

The Eurostars Programme is a funding and support programme, aimed at R&D-performing SMEs that wish to redeem the benefits that come with international collaboration. The application process is hugely competitive, with 506 applications submitted from across 36 countries. The evaluation process considers three key areas for assessment; Quality, Impact and Excellence.

As the project lead, my mhealth are clinical and technological experts in digital healthcare applications for long-term conditions, with COPD as a primary area of focus. Their expertise in this arena, and vision and experience in digital therapeutics was recognised by the judging panel. In particular the project achieved the highest scores in the Innovation & R&D category.

In following strict guidelines the app will be compatible for use across the European Union, once developed the app content will be available in five languages: French, Italian, Portuguese, German and Spanish.

Dr. Simon Bourne, Chief Executive Officer of my mhealth:

“We are thrilled to be partnering with such talented and diverse teams on this innovative and important project over the next few years. Each organisation brings a very unique perspective to the table, allowing for a thoughtful and comprehensive approach to tackling heart health. I am extremely passionate about digital health and this has the potential to change many lives for the better, helping us transform cardiac rehabilitation for patients across Europe.”

About my mhealth:

Our mission is to change healthcare forever. We do this by empowering patients and clinical teams to manage long-term conditions using digital therapeutics, delivered remotely at a fraction of the traditional cost to patients with Asthma, COPD, COVID-19, Diabetes and Heart Disease.

Founded by two NHS medical consultants to deliver evidence-based interventions using software and applications to patients, we developed the UK’s first NHS-approved digital platform. My mhealth delivered over 275,000 rehabilitation and education sessions during 2020 to patients with respiratory and cardiac conditions.

Each of our apps, including myCOPD, myAsthma, myDiabetes and myHeart, have been developed with clinical experts in their field to provide patients with the knowledge and support to manage their conditions. These self-management apps offer a unique, customised, and personalised experience for patients and they can be accessed and used on almost any device, from smartphones to smart TV’s.

We are pioneering a new approach to dispersed healthcare provision, enabling remote monitoring, and medication management which delivers better outcomes, improved patient engagement and decreases the burden on the NHS.


About Games for Health:

Games for Health is a research & design driven SME, based in the Netherlands with over 20 years’ experience application design based on playful intelligence for healthcare and other markets. Playful intelligence allows for a desired change in behaviour among individuals, as well as larger groups as it calls on the natural youthfulness of our desire to play. Being a specialist in this field, Games for Health has designed many applications for therapy adherence, anti-biotics prescriptions in the struggle to overcome anti-biotic resistance and lifestyle change in case of infertility problems for several leading pharmaceutical companies. In several European consortia it works on motivational strategies, e.g. for stress relief of elderly employees (mHealthINX), for the stimulation of physical activities in the younger population (Sugapas) and also on planetary health related topics like environmental influence on cardiopulmonary diseases (Expanse) and reversed logistics of e-waste. It’s most recent success is the Post-IC digital diary for the prevention or relief of the post intensive care syndrome, of major importance in times of Covid-19 (Post-icu.com).


About Ospedale Malcantonese (OSCAM):

The Ospedale Malcantonese is a non-profit organisation, established in 1928 thanks to the donation of Mr. Giuseppe Rossi of Castelrotto, officially inaugurated on 11 November 1928. The Ospedale Malcantonese is included in the hospital planning of the Canton Ticino (Switzerland).

The Ospedale Malcantonese has a RAMI department (Acute Department of Minor Intensity), a psychiatry department and various outpatient services (Cardiology, Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation, Physiotherapy, Ergotherapy, Dietician, Radiology, First Aid, Psychology, Diabetology, Advice for smoke sessecion, Laboratory Analysis, Acupuncture, Abdominal and Vascular Ultrasound, Pulmonology, Social Assistance).

The Ospedale Malcantonese is represented by Dr. Tania Odello (Senior Cardiologist of the Cardiology Service and of the Rehabilitation and Preventive Cardiology Service) and the CUOREMA Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Team, from which the name of the project originates from (www.cuorema.com). They will specialise in the clinical development of the CUOREMA App, the clinical study that will support the project and ethical supervision.


About the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI):

Dr. Francesca D. Faraci is the leader of the Bio-Signal Processing (BSP) research group of the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI) Department of Innovative Technologies (DTI). The research focuses on the optimisation and tailoring of advanced statistical and AI methods, to individualise clinical medicine for monitoring, diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

In the European project CUOREMA, SUPSI-DTI-BSP will be in charge of developing the bio-behavioural change support system. BSP researchers will build upon objective, subjective and contextual information about the patients; interpret the information considering the clinical and social individual characteristics and feed this information back into the system to enhance the adherence to CVR, also through gamification. Our biggest challenge is to develop algorithms that integrate different perspectives, ensuring clinical, social, psychological, technical, gamification and computational needs are taken into account.


ALFAGAMMA and L.I.F.E. sponsors

The project will benefit from the collaboration and support of the company ALFAGAMMA (www.alfagamma.ch), distributor and manufacturer of medical devices and with the company L.I.F.E. (www.x10y.com), manufacturer of advanced intelligent garments that will allow us to monitor our patients in an innovative way, even from a distance.


If you want to find out more about this project or how myHeart can help your cardiac patients please get in touch here or call us on +44 (0)1202 299 583.


A poster about managing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
By External Studies January 24, 2025
Permission to use received from Rebecca Fowler View poster .
A person is holding a cell phone in their hand.
By Evaluation MMH-E01 January 24, 2025
Results of a service evaluation using myHeart in a large London-based acute NHS Trust. We are pleased to report the outcomes from this recent service evaluation of myHeart and the potential benefit of using the myHeart app to supplement existing cardiac rehabilitation (CR). Cardiac rehabilitation is an essential evidence-based intervention that supports patient recovery following a cardiac event. It offers patients a structured education and exercise programme to aid recovery and support behavioural changes to help reduce the risk of future cardiac health complications. The myHeart app provides a structure educational and exercise intervention that mirrors current CR service delivery as well as supportive self-management tools. Overall, 721 patients were invited to participate in 1 of 4 groups (class-based CR, class-based CR with myHeart, home-based CR and home-based CR with myHeart). A total of 584 patients opted to use class-based CR and of these 43 chose to include myHeart to support them with this. There were 137 patients in the home-based group, with 54 choosing to include myHeart alongside their CR. This 12-week evaluation involved functional, physical and psychological assessments both before and after CR to explore potential changes. Patients were also asked to complete a rating of perceived exertion Borg RPE scale (Borg 6-20). Those in the home-based groups were contacted mid-way through the study. Results identified three key outcomes: 1. Blood pressure, cholesterol, LDL, BMI, HbA1c and exercise were all very similar across the groups with marginal differences across each measure. 2. Drop-out rates (DOR) of patients being invited to attend CR and attending CR were significantly lower in those groups with access to myHeart. * Class only: DOR = 58.2% Class + App; DOR = 25.6% * Home only: DOR = 73.5% Home + App; DOR = 42.6% 3. Those patients with access to myHeart and in the home-based group saw the greatest improvement in anxiety and depression scores. This real-world evaluation provides an encouraging insight into the potential impact of myHeart to supplement CR services, and is suggestive that, as an adjunct to support both class and home-based programmes, myHeart helps to reduce drop-out rates in CR and can assist in reinforcing continuous engagement with CR programmes.
A group of doctors are looking at a tablet computer.
By Evaluation MMH-E02 January 24, 2025
Results have led to continued QISMET Accreditation for myDiabetes (QIS2015) and have revealed the app could play an important role in supporting structured patient education delivery for type 2 diabetes following initial diagnosis, and as an ongoing resource. Together with a large Health and Care Partnership, we led a multi-centre service evaluation to explore the impact of myDiabetes on education course attendance rates. T2DM is a serious and growing problem worldwide and affects more than 3 million people in the UK. Structured education is a large part of managing T2DM to promote a healthy lifestyle and improve blood sugar control. However, the uptake for education courses has been less than encouraging across the UK. By offering a digital alternative or adjunct to a class-based course those who are unable or prefer not to attend a class-based programme, are able to receive structured education. myDiabetes is an app to support patients and clinicians manage diabetes together, remotely and at scale. Overall, 83 T2DM patients were recruited by the healthcare team, of which 28 chose to use myDiabetes alone, 35 chose only usual care, and 20 chose to use both. Patient education usage was monitored over a 12-week period. During this evaluation we monitored changes in diabetes related clinical health outcomes where possible, including HbA1c, blood pressure and body mass index. Participants in all three sites were asked to complete the Problem Areas In Diabetes (PAID) questionnaire at the beginning and end of the evaluation to explore markers of improvement in diabetes related distress. Results showed the app was acceptable in this care setting with 31 of 42 patients using it alone or as an adjunct to usual care. A total of 586 education videos were watched, on average each patient watched 22.5 (SD 19.6) videos. There was a reduction in PAID scores across all arms, with the app only arm showing the greatest improvement. Patients using myDiabetes showed the greatest improvement in HbA1c (-7.5 vs –4.4 mmol/mol), Systolic Blood Pressure (-12.2 vs +3.3 mmHg) and PAID score (-6.8 vs –5.2). In this real world evaluation myDiabetes performed better than published education course completion rates and resulted in significant improvements in HbA1c and PAID score compared to classed-based programs. This supports the use of myDiabetes to support the delivery of structured based education for patients with type 2 diabetes.
The logo for the university college london hospitals nhs foundation trust
By July 2024 August 7, 2024
NHS University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, part of North Central London ICB, is taking a significant step towards enhancing patient empowerment and optimising disease management. Asthma is a chronic condition that affects millions of people worldwide, often leading to severe health complications if not managed properly. Recognising the critical need for effective self-management tools, NHS University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has chosen the myAsthma app to provide patients with the resources they need to take control of their health. Dr Kay Roy PhD FRCP, Consultant Respiratory Physician University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, comments “We are thrilled to introduce myAsthma as a self-management tool to our community. It represents a significant step forward in empowering our patients with asthma to take control of their health. By providing them with personalised support, we believe this tool will greatly improve their quality of life. Additionally, the use of myAsthma in outpatient settings will help triage patients more effectively, ensuring they are seen in a timely manner and appropriately referred for the right investigations and services. Our team is excited to see the positive impact this will have on the asthma population across North Central London ICB." The myAsthma app, part of the my mhealth suite of digital health solutions, is designed to empower patients with comprehensive tools and information to manage their asthma more effectively. Key features include: • Personalised Action Plans: Tailored asthma management plans based on individual patient needs. • Inhaler technique training: Contributing to better health outcomes and reduced risk of exacerbations • Medication Tracking: Reminders and logs to ensure patients take their medication as prescribed. • Symptom tracking: Easy-to-use tools for tracking symptoms and triggers. • Educational Resources: Access to a wealth of information on asthma, helping patients understand their condition and how to manage it. As more NHS partners embrace the my mhealth platform, we're thrilled to witness its growing impact and the positive changes it is bringing to long-term condition care. For more information on this article or other my mhealth projects, please get in touch https://mymhealth.com/contact-us
A blue book titled mycopd data library
August 7, 2024
Read the myCOPD Data Booklet.
A poster about managing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
By 2nd July 2024 August 7, 2024
Permission to use received from Rebecca Fowler View poster
By 13 May 2024 August 7, 2024
Henry M.G. Glyde1Alison M. Blythin2 Tom M.A. Wilkinson3Ian T. Nabney4 James W. Dodd5 EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Digital Health and Care, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK my mHealth Limited, Bournemouth , UK my mHealth and Clinical and Experimental Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK School of Engineering Mathematics and Technology, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK Academic Respiratory Unit, Translational Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK Abstract Background Acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) are episodes of breathlessness, cough and sputum which are associated with the risk of hospitalisation, progressive lung function decline and death. They are often missed or diagnosed late . Accurate timely intervention can improve these poor outcomes. Digital tools can be used to capture symptoms and other clinical data in COPD. This study aims to apply machine learning to the largest available real-world digital dataset to identify AECOPD Prediction tool which could be used to support early intervention improve clinical outcomes. Objective To create and validate a machine learning predictive model that forecasts exacerbations of COPD 1-8 days in advance. The model is based on routine patient-entered data from myCOPD self-management app. Method Adaptations of the AdaBoost algorithm were employed as machine learning approaches. The dataset included 506 patients users between 2017-2021. 55,066 app records were available for stable COPD event labels and 1,263 records of AECOPD event labels. The data used for training the model included COPD assessment test (CAT) scores, symptom scores, smoking history, and previous exacerbation frequency. All exacerbation records used in the model were confined to the 1-8 days preceding a self-reported exacerbation event. Results TheEasyEnsemble Classifier resulted in a Sensitivity of 67.0% and a Specificity of 65% with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 5.0% and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 98.9%. An AdaBoost model with a cost-sensitive decision tree resulted in a a Sensitivity of 35.0% and a Specificity of 89.0% with a PPV of 7.08% and NPV of 98.3%. Conclusion This preliminary analysis demonstrates that machine learning approaches to real-world data from a widely deployed digital therapeutic has the potential to predict AECOPD and can be used to confidently exclude the risk of exacerbations of COPD within the next 8 days. Permission to use received from Henry Glyde. Read more on Heliyon website.
A poster for hybrid cardiac rehabilitation by university hospitals derby and burton
By 5th October 2023 August 7, 2024
Charlotte Smith 1 Francesca D’angelo 2 University Hospital of Derby and Burton, Cardiac Rehabilitation Department, Burton Upon Trent, UK. University Hospital of Derby and Burton, Health and Wellbeing Department, Burton, UK To examine the effectiveness of physical activity outcomes using a web-based Cardiac Rehabilitation application compared with a conventional programme or a combination of both. University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust poster presented at the BACPR Annual Conference October 5-6th 2023 Permission to use received from Charlotte Smith
A poster for hybrid cardiac rehabilitation shows a picture of a lake
By 5th October 2023 August 7, 2024
Francesca D’angelo 1 Charlotte Smith 2 University Hospital of Derby and Burton, Health and Wellbeing Department, Burton, UK University Hospital of Derby and Burton, Cardiac Rehabilitation Department, Burton Upon Trent, UK. To examine the effectiveness of psychological outcomes using a web-based Cardiac Rehabilitation application compared with a conventional programme or a combination of both. University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust poster presented at the BACPR Annual Conference October 5-6th 2023 Poster presented at the BACPR Annual Conference October 5-6th 2023 Permission to use received from Charlotte Smith
A stethoscope is sitting on a table next to a laptop and a cell phone.
By 12 March 2024 August 7, 2024
Christopher Duckworth 1 Bethany Cliffe 2. Brian Pickering 1 Ben Ainsworth 2 Alison Blythin 3 Adam Kirk 3 Adam Kirk Thomas M. A. Wilkinson 3,4,5 Michael J. Boniface 1 1 IT Innovation Centre, Digital Health and Biomedical Engineering, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. 2. School of Psychology, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK my mHealth Limited, London, UK. National Institute for Health Research Applied Research Collaboration Wessex, University of Southampton , Southampton , GB Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton , GB Mobile Health (mHealth) has the potential to be transformative in the management of chronic conditions. Machine learning can leverage self-reported data collected with apps to predict periods of increased health risk, alert users, and signpost interventions. Despite this, mHealth must balance the treatment burden of frequent self-reporting and predictive performance and safety. Here we report how user engagement with a widely used and clinically validated mHealth app, myCOPD (designed for the self-management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), directly impacts the performance of a machine learning model predicting an acute worsening of condition (i.e., exacerbations). We classify how users typically engage with myCOPD, finding that 60.3% of users engage frequently, however, less frequent users can show transitional engagement (18.4%), becoming more engaged immediately ( < 21 days) before exacerbating. Machine learning performed better for users who engaged the most, however, this performance decrease can be mostly offset for less frequent users who engage more near exacerbation. We conduct interviews and focus groups with myCOPD users, highlighting digital diaries and disease acuity as key factors for engagement. Users of mHealth can feel overburdened when self-reporting data necessary for predictive modelling and confidence of recognising exacerbations is a significant barrier to accurate self-reported data. We demonstrate that users of mHealth should be encouraged to engage when they notice changes to their condition (rather than clinically defined symptoms) to achieve data that is still predictive for machine learning, while reducing the likelihood of disengagement through desensitisation. Read more
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