CHICAGO, September 17, 2024 – Cylinder, the employee benefit provider for gastrointestinal (GI) care, today announced that a clinical study of its app-based digestive health management platform found it to be effective in reducing health disparities and improving health outcomes across diverse racial and socioeconomic groups.
The peer-reviewed findings were published this month in BMJ Open Gastroenterology in a study titled “Digital disease management programme reduces chronic gastrointestinal symptoms among racially and socially vulnerable populations.”
The study evaluated the impact of Cylinder’s app-based digestive health management platform – which includes symptom tracking, personalized medical nutrition therapy, GI-specific health coaching, and targeted education – across a population that is diverse in race, gender, and socioeconomic status.
Key findings from the study include:
85% of users reported significant improvements in GI symptoms. 83% of users reported feeling more in control of their health, with African American users (92%) and women (86%) reporting the highest improvement.83% of users reported better symptom management, with African American users (94%) and women (88%) reporting the greatest improvement.76% of users reported feeling happier, with African American users (89%) reporting the highest improvement.
“Cylinder’s digestive health management platform can help address health inequities by offering greater access to information and care for chronic digestive issues,” said Bill Snyder, Founder and CEO of Cylinder. “For employers and healthcare providers looking to tackle the social and economic burdens of GI issues, this research offers evidence of a promising approach to improving the well-being and productivity of workers.”
According to the Cylinder 2024 State of Gut Health in the Workplace survey, 71% of Americans experience GI symptoms such as gas, bloating, abdominal pain, and constipation. The study emphasizes how the app-based tool can address these digestive health issues, particularly with underserved populations.
“In the United States, socially vulnerable groups have historically had limited access to information and care for their digestive health issues, resulting in poorer health outcomes such as colorectal cancer and GERD,” said Dr. Hau Liu, Chief Medical Officer for Cylinder. “Our study shows evidence that Cylinder’s digital health management tool can help support employers’ efforts to mitigate disparities in healthcare delivery, reduce healthcare costs, and improve the quality of life for workers of diverse backgrounds.”
About Cylinder
Cylinder is the leading virtual digestive health provider, delivering personalized, clinician-backed care for the full spectrum of gastrointestinal (GI) conditions and symptoms including GERD, Ulcerative Colitis, celiac disease, bloating, gas and more. With a dedicated care team that includes GI doctors, registered dietitians, and health coaches, Cylinder has helped over 100,000 people across all 50 states to date. Its platform combines digital access with evidence-based interventions to improve outcomes, reduce costs, and enhance quality of life. Backed by published, peer-reviewed clinical results, Cylinder delivers up to 5:1 ROI and industry-leading 13% employee engagement. Trusted by employers and health plans including Texas A&M University and US Foods, Cylinder is helping make GI care more accessible.
