Health & Fitness
Health and Fitness
Health and Fitness
Thu, February 26, 2009
Wed, February 25, 2009 Healthways myhealthIQSM Improves Health, Lowers Risk a New Study Says
NASHVILLE, Tenn.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Participants in myhealthIQ, a Healthways, Inc. (NASDAQ: HWAY) program, saw their health status improve significantly within two years, according to recent outcome reports released by the Healthways Center for Health Research. Participants with high health risk levels experienced improvements in overall risk score and individual health risk conditions within the first year, while continued improvements were reported after the second year of participation.
myhealthIQ uses clinical laboratory results and scientific health surveys to identify potentially life-threatening risk factors or lifestyle behaviors. Once engaged, members are guided through their own personal health management plan, including referrals for primary care intervention, personalized lifestyle programs and individual support from expert health coaches.
The first study addressed health risks in the employee population through the analysis of health data for more than 23,000 individuals who participated in myhealthIQ for one year:
- myhealthIQ participants demonstrated measurable improvement in overall health risk status after only one year in the program. Reduced risk factors included cholesterol levels, blood pressure and nicotine usage.
- The majority of study participants underestimated their overall health risk level, with 83 percent of "at risk" participants reporting their health as good to excellent, suggesting that this population was largely unaware of their true health status at the time of myhealthIQ enrollment.
- Eighteen percent of participants who did not report themselves as smokers tested positive for nicotine use.
The second study analyzed data from more than 4,000 participants nationwide who participated in myhealthIQ for two consecutive years:
- Participants with two years in myhealthIQ demonstrated sustained improvement in overall level of health risk, with more enrollees reporting fewer health risk factors compared to the first year.
- The prevalence of risk factors such as elevated cholesterol and nicotine use decreased significantly in both the first and second year of myhealthIQ participation, while other risk factors such as triglyceride risk showed more improvement during participants' second year in the program.
The full outcomes reports are available online at [ www.healthways.com/research ]. For more information about myhealthIQ visit [ www.myhealthIQ.com ].
About Healthways
Healthways (NASDAQ: HWAY) is the leading provider of specialized, comprehensive solutions to help millions of people maintain or improve their health and well-being and, as a result, reduce overall costs. Healthways' solutions are designed to help healthy individuals stay healthy, mitigate and slow the progression of disease associated with family or lifestyle risk factors and promote the best possible health for those already affected by disease. Healthways' proven, evidence-based programs provide highly specific and personalized interventions for each individual in a population, irrespective of age or health status, and are delivered to consumers by phone, mail, internet and face-to-face interactions, both domestically and internationally. Healthways also provides a national, fully accredited complementary and alternative Health Provider Network, offering convenient access to individuals who seek health services outside of, and in conjunction with, the traditional healthcare system. For more information, please visit [ www.healthways.com ].
