Researchers from Newcastle University in the UK have just developed a potentially life-saving device for patients with Addison’s disease, reports Newcastle University. Patients will be given a Quick Response (QR) code to carry or wear that, when scanned, will allow people to instantly access medical information about the patient that may save the wearer’s life in a crisis.
Addison’s disease is a rare condition that damages the adrenal glands and causes them to under-produce the hormones cortisol and aldosterone. The condition affects approximately 1 in every 100,000 people in the US. The majority of patients are female, and most are aged between 30 and 50. The symptoms of the disease tend to come on slowly, and can often be mistaken for other conditions. They include fatigue, low mood, appetite loss, muscle weakness, and thirst. Additional symptoms may appear over time. In about 70 to 90% of cases the disease is caused by the patient’s immune system attacking the adrenal gland, although the reasons behind this remain unclear.
To treat Addison’s disease patients take replacement hormones to return their levels to normal. This usually controls most of the symptoms, although patients will continue to be affected by periods of fatigue and may face related health issues such as diabetes. However, patients with the condition are always at risk of having an adrenal crisis; a sudden fall in the level of cortisol that is an emergency requiring immediate treatment with an injection of hydrocortisone. If the patient does not receive medical treatment quickly enough the crisis may be fatal.
The newly developed QR code system is designed to protect patients during adrenal crises. If a patient carries the code at all times, either on a bracelet or card, then health professionals can scan the code and immediately access important medical information that is specific to the patient and their condition. The QR code links to the Addison’s Disease Information System (ADIS), which details the patient’s emergency treatment protocol and needs, advice about surgery preparation, and a letter from the patient’s doctor.
Dr Andrew Colman and Dr Jolanta Weaver developed this system following the preventable deaths of two Addison’s disease patients who suffered adrenal crises but were not properly treated due to health professionals’ lack of experience and understanding about the rare disease.
A study carried out by Dr Weaver found that out of 54 healthcare professionals, over a third had never seen an adrenal crisis and about two thirds had never managed one. This means that if a patient had an adrenal crisis these professionals are likely to be less able to recognise or treat it compared to a more common condition. However, 96% of those involved in the study thought that the new ADIS system would improve patient treatment.
