New Delhi: A research paper published by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has found that mobile health interventions can improve lifestyle and prevent secondary strokes.
The trial was conducted as part of the Secondary Prevention in India by Structured Semi-Interactive Stroke Prevention Package (SPRINT-India), a multi-modality, semi-interactive mobile health intervention among stroke patients across 31 stroke centers in India. center, was a randomized-controlled trial. India.
A total of 4,298 patients were randomly allocated to the intervention group (2148) and the control arm (2150). 1502 patients in the intervention arm and 1536 patients in the control arm completed 1 year follow-up.
The trial’s intervention was a package composed of SMS text messages, health education videos and a stroke prevention workbook for patients. The messages focused on controlling blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol, improving physical activity, eating a healthy diet, and not missing medications to prevent stroke.
Stroke (brain attack) is one of the leading causes of death and disability in India. There are two types of stroke; Ischemic when there is a blockage in one of the arteries of the brain and rupture and leakage of one of the arteries that supply blood to the brain.
Dr Jairaj D Pandian, Professor of Neurology and Principal, Christian Medical College, Ludhiana who is the Clinical Coordinating Center principal investigator for the trial, said that the percentage of patients who stopped smoking (83%) and alcohol (85%) The ratio has improved. intervention group compared to the control group (78% and 75%, respectively).
Adherence to medications was also better in the intervention arm (94%) than in the control arm (89%). The incidence of stroke, heart attack and death did not differ between the two groups (5.5% vs 4.9%) at one year follow-up. This may be because the follow-up period was too short or the study centers were stroke-ready centres, which were already providing good quality care to stroke patients. The findings of the SPRINT India trial have long-term benefits for patients who had trauma through mobile health interventions.
Dr Meenakshi Sharma Scientist-G, Division of Non-Communicable Diseases, ICMR said that ICMR’s INSTRuCT network Phase I (5 years) two-stroke clinical trials were completed. He pointed out that the SPRINT study is the first trial in India (and probably globally) to attempt to assess the role of mHealth interventions in secondary prevention of stroke on such a large scale. It offers hope for improving lifestyle and medical complications leveraging technology in resource-constrained setups. In phase 2 which starts in September 2022, 4 more stroke trials, which are of great relevance to the country, have been initiated by ICMR. We will have answers to important treatments for stroke in the years to come.
The awareness material was systematically developed in 12 different regional languages. Patients in the control group received standard care while those in the intervention group received awareness materials at weekly intervals to promote healthy living and adherence to medications. The results of the study have now been published in the latest issue of the journal Lancet.
catch all business News, market news, today’s fresh news events and Breaking News Update on Live Mint. download mint news app To get daily market updates.