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A Nudge Towards Cardiovascular Health: Applications of Behavioral Economics for Primary and Secondary Cardiovascular Prevention

  • Prevention (K Aragam, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Despite robust development of effective behavioral and medical therapies in cardiovascular medicine, in many cases, patient and provider implementation of those therapies has been suboptimal. Ultimately, the implementation of those therapies relies upon one final common pathway: human behavior. Principles from the field of behavioral economics can be used to nudge patients and healthcare providers towards better healthcare decision-making. This review will focus on how the field of behavioral economics can inform the delivery of primary and secondary cardiovascular prevention interventions.

Recent Findings

Behavioral economics principles such as loss-framing, social norms, and choice architecture can be applied to successfully and sustainably change patient and provider behavior. These behavior changes can be potentiated by the use of electronic tools such as wearable activity trackers and electronic health records.

Summary

Human behavior change is key to promotion of primary and secondary cardiovascular prevention. As our understanding of how to apply principles from behavioral economics develops, and as we apply those principles in a more targeted way, they will become even more powerful tools to promote positive clinical outcomes in patients with cardiovascular disease.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, PCAM South Pavilion 11-139, 3400 Civic Center Blvd., Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Srinath Adusumalli MD, MSc & Mitesh Patel MD, MBA, MS

  2. Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, PCAM South Pavilion 11-139, 3400 Civic Center Blvd., Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Srinath Adusumalli MD, MSc

  3. Penn Medicine Nudge Unit, University of Pennsylvania, PCAM South Pavilion 11-139, 3400 Civic Center Blvd., Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Srinath Adusumalli MD, MSc & Mitesh Patel MD, MBA, MS

  4. Department of Psychiatry, Stanford University, 1520 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, USA

    Gowri Aragam MD

  5. Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Gowri Aragam MD

  6. The Wharton School, PCAM South Pavilion 11-139, 3400 Civic Center Blvd., Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Mitesh Patel MD, MBA, MS

  7. Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, PCAM South Pavilion 14-176, 3400 Civic Center Blvd., Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Mitesh Patel MD, MBA, MS

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Correspondence to Srinath Adusumalli MD, MSc or Mitesh Patel MD, MBA, MS.

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Mitesh Patel declares that they have relationships with Catalyst Health, LLC., Healthmine Services, Life.io, and Holistic Industries.

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Adusumalli, S., Aragam, G. & Patel, M. A Nudge Towards Cardiovascular Health: Applications of Behavioral Economics for Primary and Secondary Cardiovascular Prevention. Curr Treat Options Cardio Med 22, 24 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11936-020-00824-y

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