Less than half of people over age 50 have never used a health-related app, wearable device or tablet, even those who have conditions that might benefit from them, according to the Ann Arbor-based University of Michigan's "National Poll on Healthy Aging."
In August 2021, researchers conducted an online national poll via mobile phone that randomly selected adults aged 50 to 80, some with Type 2 diabetes, about their use and interest in mobile health applications.
The poll found that 56 percent of poll participants had never used a health app. And among participants with Type 2 diabetes, only 28 percent used an app to record blood sugar levels and 14 percent used an app to log medications. Demographic disparities also correlated with app usage, with older people who are healthy, have a high annual household income (of over $100,000) and have a bachelor's degree more likely to use health apps.
Health-related apps can improve health outcomes. There are over 350,000 mobile health applications, some of which manage chronic pain, glucose levels and Type 2 diabetes, but many older individuals aren't aware of them.
Among the apps that older people did have, exercise- and nutrition-based platforms came out on top, with 34 percent and 22 percent of respondents saying they used such apps, respectively. Older adults who use apps mainly use them to track their health, with 70 percent of those who used apps saying that was the main reason to use them.