By Rocky Williams

In the span of a generation, cell phones went from being a luxury to a necessity—and they’re not just for calling and texting anymore. We do everything on our phones: email, shop, listen to music, post on social media, play games, and track everything from our finances to our fitness. In fact, today there is a large selection of health and well-being apps available to help users keep tabs on their diet, exercise, mental health, and health conditions such as diabetes.

It’s no surprise, then, that several apps have been developed for those living with hemophilia to keep a record of their bleeds and infusions. These records help families, caregivers, and doctors to better understand trends in treating and help in customizing care plans. Some apps also offer other bells and whistles, such as reminders to infuse, the ability to take pictures of medication to capture information like expiration dates and lot numbers, and integration with other health apps.

So what apps are currently available and how do they compare?

HemMobile and MicroHealth Hemophilia

Two of the most popular hemophilia apps are HemMobile (developed by Pfizer) and MicroHealth Hemophilia (developed by MicroHealth). Both apps are currently available from the Google and Apple app stores and allow users to record infusions, log bleeds, track physical activity, and create reports. They both also allow users to keep track of doctor appointments, set reminders, and set up multiple profiles. With permission, both can share information directly with your care team. HemMobile uses your device’s camera to capture medication lot number, product expiration date, and IU amount of your infused factor product. MicroHealth can also scan lot numbers and more, as well as help you monitor your factor inventory levels and ask for timely refills.

MicroHealth has higher ratings in both the Google and Apple app stores, although many of the reviews for both are at least a few years old. HemMobile is for only Pfizer products. The HemMobile app also offers the ability to find nearby hemophilia treatment centers (HTCs) and National Hemophilia Foundation chapters.

Both also have a fitness app integration: MicroHealth integrates with Health app on your iPhone to get your minutes of exercise per day. HemMobile integrates with Google Fit or a Striiv wearable device, which can track your heart rate, steps, and other activities.

Get the app:

HemMobile: App Store (Google and Apple)

MicroHealth Hemophilia: App Store (Google and Apple)

myWAPPS

A third app, myWAPPS (developed by Design 2 Code Inc. with a grant from Bayer), offers many of the same features such as recording infusions, logging bleed activity, creating reports, and setting up reminders. Where it stands out is its ability to gauge your factor levels, including showing trough and peak levels before and after infusion. This app is also available in the Google and Apple app stores, but myWAPPS registration requires a pharmacokinetic (PK) report completed by your treating physician. To use this app, you will have to undergo a PK study and not every HTC uses myWAPPS. Ask your HTC if you're interested.

Get the app:

MyWAPPS: App Store (Google and Apple)

ATHNadvoy

Another app that community members mention using is ATHNadvoy (developed by the American Thrombosis and Hemostasis Network, or ATHN). Like the others, it enables users to record infusions, log bleed activity, create reports, set up reminders, and transmit your treatment information to your HTC.

Get the app:

Register at www.ATHNADVOY.COM

Look into the app best for you

All four apps can be helpful tools for those living with hemophilia B. Which app is best for you is a personal choice, and community members differ on what they prefer. “I have used HemMobile,” said April “I like the idea of syncing it with my Fitbit.” Meanwhile, Stormy said she likes MicroHealth: “I love that it connects to my specialty pharmacy and lets the nurse know if I log a bleed.”

Since the usefulness of the app may depend heavily on what your doctor or HTC can accommodate, we recommend discussing it with your care providers to determine what would fit best into your lifestyle and treatment plan.