Top 10 Digital Health News Of 2021

From the approval of a new prescription VR treatment to renewed privacy concerns, 2021 has been full of digital health developments. Indeed, some news might have gone under the radar or might require a quick refresher; so we’re wrapping up 2021 with a round-up of 10 of the most important digital health news of this year.

1. FDA-approved prescription VR treatment for chronic back pain

In mid-November, the FDA authorised a virtual reality (VR) system as a prescription treatment for chronic back pain. Called EaseVRx, it combines cognitive behaviour therapy techniques and breathing exercises to help relax, distract and improve awareness of internal signals. The system was used in an 8-week study, where those who used EaseVRx were found to have significant pain reduction.

It’s a clear trend that the FDA has been taking lately regarding digital therapeutics (DTx). In 2020, it approved EndeavorRx, a prescription video game for the treatment of children with ADHD. In October 2021, the regulatory body cleared a VR treatment for lazy eye in children. It could be issuing approvals of more research-backed DTx in the near future.