Since November 2023, the Polish Diabetes Association (Polskie Stowarzyszenie Diabetykow) has been a consortium member of PROVIDE, a three-year EU-funded project. PROVIDE’s primary objective is to improve clinical monitoring and enable early and personalised prevention strategies for PwD by developing a system for rapid CVD risk screening.
The project’s secondary objectives include:
- Improving the classification of diabetes subtypes and disease severity to improve clinical decisions and distinguish between comorbidities, ultimately leading to more effective monitoring.
- Developing algorithms and decision trees to define and validate diagnostic pathways, ensuring that treatment is tailored to the individual’s needs, moving away from a “one-size-fits-all” approach.
In the European Union, more than 32 million people live with diabetes and 60 million with CVD. Among PwD, one third are at risk of developing CVD, which remains the leading cause of death and disability for those living with the condition. Early and effective CVD screening is therefore essential to prevent life-threatening complications and premature death.
Currently, CVD screening for PwD requires a complex approach involving instrumental tests such as electrocardiograms (ECG), echocardiograms, and Holter monitoring, alongside metabolic markers. PROVIDE aims to streamline and enhance this process through telehealth innovations, including wearable ECG devices and a cloud-based application that enables advanced ECG analysis.
The innovative nature of PROVIDE lies in the combination of methods, including complex systems dynamics theory, information theory and physiochemical biomarkers, alongside advanced statistical approaches like machine learning and Bayesian analysis. These technologies, paired with portable monitoring devices, offer the potential for future remote monitoring of PwD.
As a key member of the PROVIDE consortium, the Polish Diabetes Association is responsible for disseminating project information and organising workshops for NGOs focused on diabetes, health promotion and education on CVD risk.