CureApp Announces Implementation Case of 'ascure Dr. Hypertension Treatment' at Konica Minolta Health Insurance Society

CureApp Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO/Physician: Kota Satake) has conducted an interview on the implementation case of its corporate and municipal lifestyle disease prevention and severe illness prevention support program, 'ascure Dr. Hypertension Treatment.' This time, we spoke with representatives from Konica Minolta Health Insurance Society (Headquarters: Hachioji City, Tokyo; Chairman: Kunihiko Onishi, hereinafter 'Konica Minolta Health Insurance') about the background of adoption, usage status, and expected outcomes.

(※'ascure Dr.' = Askyua Doctor)

How should we address hypertension, a risk factor for various diseases? This is an extremely significant challenge for health insurance societies. However, there is a reality that effective intervention is difficult with only traditional methods such as encouraging medical visits and specific health guidance.

The Konica Minolta Group, which actively promotes Health Management※1, also faces similar challenges through Konica Minolta Health Insurance, the organization responsible for enhancing employee health.

The solution chosen by the health insurance society was CureApp's 'ascure Dr. Hypertension Treatment,' which combines a mobile app with online medical consultations. The deciding factors were the trust built through the 'ascure Smoking Cessation※2' program and the perfect fit of the initiative. We delved into the behind-the-scenes of adopting this intervention-type severe illness prevention program, which goes beyond mere encouragement to visit a doctor.

Those who kindly cooperated with this interview were Takeshi Fuchigami, General Manager, and Keiko Onishi, a public health nurse and leader of the data analysis and system management team.

※1 Health Management: A strategic initiative that considers employee health management from a business perspective and implements it strategically.

※2 ascure Smoking Cessation Program: A fully online mobile health smoking cessation program developed by CureApp Inc., leveraging its expertise in developing therapeutic apps as medical device programs.

1. [Challenges Before Implementation]: Early Intervention to Hypertension Risk Groups Not Reached by Medical Visit Encouragement

――First, please tell us about the health challenges your health insurance society faced.

Onishi: Our health insurance society has a characteristic of having many members who are pre-diabetic, especially among the working-age generation. Within the Konica Minolta Group, we were early adopters of Collaborative Health※3, with the company and health insurance working together as two wheels to promote health management. While we felt some effectiveness in interventions for those with high blood sugar levels, we had not found effective measures for blood pressure.

Additionally, with an increasing number of employees being rehired after retirement and the average age of employees rising, events related to cerebro-cardiovascular diseases, with hypertension as a background factor, have been increasing. We began to think it necessary to go beyond the scope of traditional medical visit encouragement, broadly identify at-risk groups, and conduct solid interventions.

Fuchigami: We have had a long-standing relationship with CureApp through the 'ascure Smoking Cessation' program. Through regular information exchanges, we were introduced to the 'ascure Dr. Hypertension Treatment' and began considering its adoption.

※3 Collaborative Health: A system where companies (employers) and health insurance societies collaborate as a team to support the health of members (employees and their families).

2. [Reasons for Selection]: The 'Only Solution' That Matches Needs, Based on Evidence

――Among various hypertension countermeasures, why did you choose this program?

Onishi: During information gathering, we were introduced to several blood pressure-related solutions, but most were things we were already doing, such as encouraging medical visits. When seeking a more intervention-intensive solution, we were introduced to 'ascure Dr. Hypertension Treatment' and felt it was the only solution that matched our needs.

Fuchigami: While the population approach※4 can expect certain effects, it currently does not lead to direct, significant outcomes. Compared to such programs, we had high expectations for 'ascure Dr. Hypertension Treatment,' which uses a treatment app recognized as a medical device and offers higher intervention intensity. We also had absolute trust due to our experience with the 'ascure Smoking Cessation' program.

※4 Population Approach: A method that uniformly promotes health improvement and disease prevention to the entire group regardless of risk, aiming to raise the overall health level of the group.

――How was the reaction within your organization, especially from the board of directors?

Fuchigami: There were concerns about costs, but hypertension countermeasures were a key initiative, and we were in an environment where it was easy to gain understanding. Additionally, since the entire Konica Minolta Group promotes DX, the fact that this is a program utilizing digital technology became a factor that was positively accepted.

Onishi: The fact that the 'Hypertension Treatment Support App' used in 'ascure Dr. Hypertension Treatment' has been approved as a medical device became a persuasive point. We had great peace of mind, thinking that with CureApp's program, it would be properly implemented.

3. [Implementation Process]: The Unexpected 'Latent Demand' from Active Employees

――In April 2025, targeting approximately 500 employees who had recorded blood pressure of 130mmHg or higher in consecutive health checkups, recruitment was started with a limit of 20 participants.

Fuchigami: While we felt it was a good program, we were concerned about whether employees would adapt to online medical consultations.

Onishi: From our experience with various health initiatives, we could see trends in which measures resonate and which do not, and 'familiarity' was one factor. We thought we would somehow have to gather the 20 participants and worried about how many times we would have to open recruitment...

――As a result, applications exceeded the capacity immediately after recruitment began, and enrollment was closed early. What were the factors?

Fuchigami: After sending emails to the target group and posting information on the intranet, 23 participants gathered immediately. The high quality of videos and flyers provided by CureApp was helpful for recruitment. They really have great taste.

Onishi: We were saying we would launch the first arrow and then think about the next steps, but recruitment ended immediately. We were surprised by the demand for hypertension countermeasures! I think the clear incentive of 'receiving a blood pressure monitor' also played a role.

4. [Operational Feedback]: Disease Understanding Leading to Sustainable Behavioral Change

――In the post-program survey, 95% of participants reported experiencing a 'change in awareness' regarding lifestyle habits. How did the health insurance society feel about the results?

Onishi: With initiatives, there are often people who apply but do not participate, but in this program, there were almost no dropouts. When users had issues, they were properly supported by the program's staff.

With specific health guidance alone, the main discussion revolves around diet, exercise, and weight control, making it difficult to deepen understanding of hypertension as a medical condition.

From my experience as a public health nurse, I've always thought it would be good to have more opportunities to help participants understand why they have hypertension and what they should do about it. 'ascure Dr. Hypertension Treatment' hits that point.