Effectiveness of an Interactive mHealth App (EVITE) in Improving Lifestyle After a Coronary Event: Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Coronary heart disease is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Secondary prevention is essential, as it reduces the risk of further coronary events. Mobile health (mHealth) technology could become a useful tool to improve lifestyles. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of an mHealth intervention on people with coronary heart disease who received percutaneous coronary intervention. Improvements in lifestyle regarding diet, physical activity, and smoking; level of knowledge of a healthy lifestyle and the control of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs); and therapeutic adherence and quality of life were analyzed. METHODS: This was a randomized controlled trial with a parallel group design assigned 1:1 to either an intervention involving a smartphone app (mHealth group) or to standard health care (control group). The app was used for setting aims, the self-monitoring of lifestyle and CVRFs using measurements and records, educating people with access to information on their screens about healthy lifestyles and adhering to treatment, and giving motivation through feedback about achievements and aspects to improve. Both groups were assessed after 9 months. The primary outcome variables were adherence to the Mediterranean diet, frequency of food consumed, patient-reported physical activity, smoking, knowledge of healthy lifestyles and the control of CVRFs, adherence to treatment, quality of life, well-being, and satisfaction. RESULTS: The study analyzed 128 patients, 67 in the mHealth group and 61 in the control group; most were male (92/128, 71.9%), with a mean age of 59.49 (SD 8.97) years. Significant improvements were observed in the mHealth group compared with the control group regarding adherence to the Mediterranean diet (mean 11.83, SD 1.74 points vs mean 10.14, SD 2.02 points; P<.001), frequency of food consumption, patient-reported physical activity (mean 619.14, SD 318.21 min/week vs mean 471.70, SD 261.43 min/week; P=.007), giving up smoking (25/67, 75% vs 11/61, 42%; P=.01), level of knowledge of healthy lifestyles and the control of CVRFs (mean 118.70, SD 2.65 points vs mean 111.25, SD 9.05 points; P<.001), and the physical component of the quality of life 12-item Short Form survey (SF-12; mean 45.80, SD 10.79 points vs mean 41.40, SD 10.78 points; P=.02). Overall satisfaction was higher in the mHealth group (mean 48.22, SD 3.89 vs mean 46.00, SD 4.82 points; P=.002) and app satisfaction and usability were high (mean 44.38, SD 6.18 out of 50 points and mean 95.22, SD 7.37 out of 100). CONCLUSIONS: The EVITE app was effective in improving the lifestyle of patients in terms of adherence to the Mediterranean diet, frequency of healthy food consumption, physical activity, giving up smoking, knowledge of healthy lifestyles and controlling CVRFs, quality of life, and overall satisfaction. The app satisfaction and usability were excellent. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT04118504; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04118504.

Impact of mHealth application on adherence to cardiac rehabilitation guidelines after a coronary event: Randomised controlled clinical trial protocol.

Background: Coronary disease is the main cause of death around the world. mHealth technology is considered attractive and promising to promote behavioural changes aimed at healthy lifestyle habits among coronary patients. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of an mHealth intervention regarding improved results in secondary prevention in patients after an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or angina in terms of lifestyle, clinical variables and therapeutic compliance. Methods: Randomised clinical trial with 300 patients who underwent a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with stent implant. They will be assigned to either the mHealth group, subject to a self-monitored educational intervention involving an internet application installed on their mobile phone or tablet, or to a control group receiving standard healthcare (150 patients in each arm). The primary outcome variables will be adherence to the Mediterranean diet, physical activity, smoking, therapeutic compliance, knowledge acquired, user-friendliness and satisfaction with the application. Measurements of blood pressure, heart rate, body weight, waist circumference (WC) and the 6-min walk test will be taken. Furthermore, the blood lipid profile, glucose and HbA1c will be evaluated. Clinical interview will be conducted, and validated questionnaires completed. The primary quantitative results will be compared using an analysis of covariance adjusted for age and sex. A multivariate analysis will be performed to examine the association of the intervention with lifestyle habits, the control of cardiovascular risk factors (CDRFs) and the results after the hospital discharge (major adverse events, treatment compliance and lifestyle). Conclusions: The study will provide evidence about the effectiveness of an mHealth intervention at improving the lifestyle of the participants and could be offered to patients with coronary disease to complement existing services. Trial registration: NCT05247606. [https://ClinicalTrials.gov]. 21/02/2022.

Effectiveness of mHealth Interventions in the Control of Lifestyle and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Patients After a Coronary Event: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery disease is the main cause of death and loss of disability-adjusted life years worldwide. Information and communication technology has become an important part of health care systems, including the innovative cardiac rehabilitation services through mobile phone and mobile health (mHealth) interventions. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to determine the effectiveness of different kinds of mHealth programs in changing lifestyle behavior, promoting adherence to treatment, and controlling modifiable cardiovascular risk factors and psychosocial outcomes in patients who have experienced a coronary event. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was performed following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. A thorough search of the following biomedical databases was conducted: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, SciELO, CINAHL, Scopus, The Clinical Trial, and Cochrane. Articles that were randomized clinical trials that involved an intervention consisting of an mHealth program using a mobile app in patients after a coronary event were included. The articles analyzed some of the following variables as outcome variables: changes in lifestyle behavior, cardiovascular risk factors, and anthropometric and psychosocial variables. A meta-analysis of the variables studied was performed with the Cochrane tool. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration tool; the quality of the evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation tool; and heterogeneity was measured using the I2 test. RESULTS: A total of 23 articles were included in the review, and 20 (87%) were included in the meta-analysis, with a total sample size of 4535 patients. Exercise capacity measured using the 6-minute walk test (mean difference=21.64, 95% CI 12.72-30.55; P<.001), physical activity (standardized mean difference [SMD]=0.42, 95% CI 0.04-0.81; P=.03), and adherence to treatment (risk difference=0.19, 95% CI 0.11-0.28; P<.001) were significantly superior in the mHealth group. Furthermore, both the physical and mental dimensions of quality of life were better in the mHealth group (SMD=0.26, 95% CI 0.09-0.44; P=.004 and SMD=0.27, 95% CI 0.06-0.47; P=.01, respectively). In addition, hospital readmissions for all causes and cardiovascular causes were statistically higher in the control group than in the mHealth group (SMD=-0.03, 95% CI -0.05 to -0.00; P=.04 vs SMD=-0.04, 95% CI -0.07 to -0.00; P=.05). CONCLUSIONS: mHealth technology has a positive effect on patients who have experienced a coronary event in terms of their exercise capacity, physical activity, adherence to medication, and physical and mental quality of life, as well as readmissions for all causes and cardiovascular causes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO (International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews) CRD42022299931; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=299931.

Validation of the General and Sport Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire (GeSNK) in Spanish Adolescents.

The General and Sport Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire (GeSNK) is an instrument that has been developed and validated to assess the level of nutrition knowledge in adolescents and young adults. The aim of the present study was to validate the GeSNK questionnaire in a group of Spanish adolescents in the framework of a Nutrition Education Programme in Secondary Schools in Andalusia, Spain. This cross-sectional questionnaire validation study was developed in two phases: translation-cultural adaptation and validation. A total of 305 adolescents aged 11 to 17 years, studying from the first to the third year of compulsory secondary education, participated on a voluntary basis. The GeSNK questionnaire consists of 62 items: 29 items for the General Nutrition section and 33 items for the Sports Nutrition section. Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the complete questionnaire (GeSNK Total) was: 0.934; for the GeSNK General Nutrition section it was 0.918; and for the GeSNK Sports Nutrition section it was 0.856. The stability measured by the correlation coefficient for the General Nutrition section was 0.406 (p = 0.000); for the Sports Nutrition section it was 0.198 (p = 0.017); and for GeSNK Total the stability was 0.545 (p = 0.000). The questionnaire also demonstrated adequate construct validity. We therefore conclude that the Spanish version of the GeSNK questionnaire is a valid instrument to measure the level of knowledge in general nutrition and sports nutrition in adolescents.

Design and Validation of a Scale of Knowledge of Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Lifestyle after Coronary Event.

BACKGROUND: It is important for health professionals to have tools available to assess patients' knowledge of lifestyle and cardiovascular risk factors after they have suffered a coronary event and determine whether educational interventions are effective. This study aims to design and validate a scale to evaluate this knowledge. METHODS: Four-phase instrument design: (A) Conceptual review. (B) Review by experts. (C) Pilot test-retest. (D) Psychometric validation of the final version of the questionnaire with 24 items. A panel of experts performed the content validity. The reliability of the scale was measured using Cronbach's alpha score and criterion validity was evaluated by comparing the total scores for knowledge obtained by the participants among the three education level groups. The construct and dimensional structure validity were assessed using exploratory factor analysis. RESULTS: A total of 143 people participated, 30 in the pilot study and 113 (68% male, 60.2 ± 9 years) in the psychometric validation of version 3 of the scale. A Cronbach's alpha score of 0.887 was reached for this version. The factor analysis showed that the items were distributed into five factors that explained 57% of the variance. Significant differences were observed in the level of knowledge among the patients of the three levels of education (low, moderate and high) (99.20 ± 11.93, 105.92 ± 7.85, 109.78 ± 8.76 points, p = 0.003), as there was a negative correlation between age and knowledge level (r = -0.213, p = 0.024). CONCLUSIONS: The scale presents psychometric properties that are evidence of its reliability and validity. The relationship demonstrated between the level of knowledge and age, sex and level of education shows the importance of emphasizing educational interventions for elderly people and those with a lower level of education.

Lifestyle and Treatment Adherence Intervention after a Coronary Event Based on an Interactive Web Application (EVITE): Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial Protocol.

Coronary heart disease is one of the main causes of morbimortality around the world. Patients that survive a coronary event suffer a high risk of readmission, relapse and mortality, attributed to the sub-optimal control of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF), which highlights the need to improve secondary prevention strategies aimed at improving their lifestyle and adherence to treatment. Through a randomized controlled clinical trial, this study aims to evaluate the effect of an intervention involving an online health application supported by a mobile telephone or tablet (mHealth) on lifestyle (diet, physical activity, and tobacco consumption) and treatment adherence among people with coronary heart disease after percutaneous coronary intervention. The sample will comprise 240 subjects (120 in each arm: intervention and usual care). They are assessed immediately and nine months after their hospital discharge about sociodemographic, clinical, CVRF, lifestyle, and treatment adherence characteristics. The educative intervention, involving a follow-up and self-monitoring, will be performed using an online mHealth tool consisting of an application for mobile phones and tablets. The quantitative primary outcomes from the two groups will be compared using an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) adjusted for age and gender. A multivariate analysis will be performed to examine the association of the intervention with lifestyle habits, the control of CVRFs, and outcomes after discharge in terms of the use of health services, emergency visits, cardiovascular events and readmissions.

Evaluation of Obesity Management Recorded in Electronic Clinical History: A Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of obesity is increasing worldwide. Because of their close proximity to the population, primary care physicians and nurses are in a unique position to motivate and advise patients with obesity on a healthy diet and increased physical activity. Drawing from information recorded in electronic clinical records, we evaluated how the general recommendations included in obesity guidelines are being implemented in routine clinical practice. METHODS: This study drew from the following data from a cohort of 209 patients with obesity that attended primary care consultations: electronic clinical records, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), cardiovascular risk factors, comorbidities and whether their health professional documented compliance with the recommendations of the evidence-based obesity guidelines in their electronic history. RESULTS: Only 25.4% of the clinical records met all the criteria established in the therapeutic guidelines regarding diet prescription, 1.4% for physical activity and 1.5% for behavioral change activities. The patients whose records mentioned diet prescription and physical activity and who received follow-up consultations for both factors had lower average BMI and WC, although this relationship was not significant after adjusting for baseline. CONCLUSIONS: We found that only a small number of records in the electronic clinical histories followed the evidence-based obesity guidelines. Recording dietetic prescription and physical exercise in the patient's clinical record is associated with better control of obesity.

Association of Adherence to Specific Mediterranean Diet Components and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Young Adults.

OBJECTIVE: Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and a healthy diet may be part of an overall healthy lifestyle. The association between cardiorespiratory fitness and adherence to an overall Mediterranean Diet (MedD) pattern and specific MedD foods has been assessed. DESIGN: Subjects completed a lifestyle survey and dietary pattern, using the validated MedD Adherence 14-item questionnaire and two self-reported 24-h dietary recalls. Participants' height, body weight, waist circumference (WC), and CRF (maximum oxygen uptake, VO2max, ml/kg/min) were measured. SETTING: University of Cádiz, Spain. SUBJECTS: A sample of young adults (n = 275, 22.2 ± 6.3 years). RESULTS: Mean VO2max was 43.9 mL/kg/min (SD 8.5 mL/kg/min). Most participants had healthy CRF (75.9%). The average MedD score was 6.2 points (SD 1.8 points). Participants who consumed more servings of nuts had higher VO2max. Those who showed low CRF performed less physical activity (PA) and had a higher body mass index (BMI) and WC compared with those classified as having healthy CRF. Nut consumption was positively associated with VO2max (ß = 0.320; 95% CI 2.4, 10.7; p < 0.002), adjusting for sex, age, smoking PA, BMI, WC, and energy intake, showing the subjects who consumed more nuts were fitter than young adults who consumed less. CONCLUSIONS: CRF is positively associated with nut consumption but not with the overall MedD pattern and all other MedD foods in the young adults. The subjects who consumed more servings of nuts were fitter than young adults who consumed less. Moreover, fitter subjects performed more PA and had a lower BMI and WC than those who had lower fitness levels.