Preliminary outcomes of a study into a digital therapeutic for insomnia found that more than 48 per cent of participants who used it experienced clinical improvement in sleep during post-stroke rehabilitation.
‘Sleepio’ users also experienced less depression and anxiety eight-weeks post intervention.
Digital therapeutics company Big Health collaborated with the University of Oxford in the study which evaluated how the app could benefit stroke patients with self-reported sleep issues.
The study findings were be presented on May 4 to 6 at the European Stroke Organisation (ESO) conference held in Lyon, France.
Stroke is frequently accompanied by sleep disruption, which persists throughout the long-term recovery process.
A 2019 study said about half of stroke survivors have insomnia, which is associated with higher rates of incident stroke and worse post-stroke outcomes.
Sleep is critical for post-stroke recovery, as research has shown quality sleep supports the brain’s ability to relearn muscle movements, regain strength, and improve motor functions.
“We are proud to collaborate with Big Health on this innovative study, which shows Sleepio, an online cognitive behavioural therapy program, is effective at improving sleep condition and mood in chronic stroke survivors,” said Melanie Fleming, research fellow in the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Oxford and lead author of the study.
“Cognitive behavioural therapy is a recommended treatment for sleep problems and based on preliminary outcomes, should be considered as part of the multidisciplinary care pathway after stroke.
“This study indicates the ability for digital therapeutics to effectively expand access to cognitive behavioral therapy and improve health outcomes for people with comorbid health conditions.”
According to leading treatment guidelines, including the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is recommended as the first line treatment for insomnia.
Expanding access of CBT to patients who have experienced stroke can serve as an effective treatment to improve sleep conditions and support recovery.
Sleepio is a digital sleep-improvement programme which takes evidence-based non-drug therapies, including cognitive behavioural therapy, and fully automates them, enabling patients to access proven treatment for insomnia without needing to see a physician.
In a clinical trial, Sleepio helped 76 per cent of people achieve clinical improvement in insomnia.
“Good quality sleep is a critical component for recovery among stroke patients,” said Colin Espie, co-founder and chief scientist of Big Health and professor of sleep medicine in the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Oxford.
“Poor sleep can slow recovery and lead to other conditions, including affecting memory and an increased risk of depression.
“These preliminary outcomes evaluated in collaboration with the University of Oxford provide a new approach to how we can support stroke patients throughout rehabilitation whose quality of sleep is critical for successful recovery.”
A secondary analysis with secondary measures and follow-up assessments are to be evaluated and published for full clinical publication.
