A randomized controlled trial of brain and heart health manager-led mHealth secondary stroke prevention.

Background: This study explores the effect of brain and heart health manager (BHHM)-led stroke secondary prevention on blood pressure, and in improving the self-management ability of stroke patients. The BHHM has not been reported.

Methods: A total of 200 stroke patients, who were discharged from our hospital, were randomized into two groups at a 1:1 ratio: intervention group and control group. Patients in the control group were followed up for six months via telephone, while patients in the experimental group were followed up for six months using the BHHM-led mHealth follow-up. The primary outcomes were systolic blood pressure (BP) and self-management ability at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months, while the secondary outcomes included medication adherence, the body mass index (BMI), and blood low-density lipoprotein.

Results: The systolic BP between these two groups at four time points (F =8.734, F =172.075, and F =11.363) was statistically significant (P<0.05). The self-health management ability at four time points during follow-up period (F =115.09, F =1,185.50, and F =108.22) was also significantly different between these two groups. Furthermore, there was a statistically significant difference in compliance with medication at six months (χ=37.616, P=0.000). However, after one year, there were no significant differences in BMI (t=0.214, P=0.644), total cholesterol (t=0.56, P=0.837), and low-density lipoprotein (t=0.042, P=0.455).

Conclusions: The BHHM-led mHealth follow-up is an effective method for managing BP and improving the self-care ability. Furthermore, this approach has no obvious effect on the management of BMI and blood low-density lipoprotein. A potential signal of efficacy with the intervention was observed.