AUTHOR=Fruhwirth Viktoria , Berger Lisa , Gattringer Thomas , Fandler-Höfler Simon , Kneihsl Markus , Schwerdtfeger Andreas , Weiss Elisabeth Margarete , Enzinger Christian , Pinter Daniela 

TITLE=Evaluation of a Newly Developed Smartphone App for Risk Factor Management in Young Patients With Ischemic Stroke: A Pilot Study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neurology

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2021

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2021.791545

DOI=10.3389/fneur.2021.791545

ISSN=1664-2295

ABSTRACT=Background: Efficient treatment of modifiable vascular risk factors decreases reoccurrence of ischemic stroke, which is of uttermost importance in younger patients. In this longitudinal pilot study, we thus assessed the effect of a newly developed smartphone app for risk factor management in such a cohort. 

Methods: The app conveys key facts about stroke, provides motivational support for a healthy lifestyle and a reminder function for medication intake and blood pressure measurement. Between January 2019 and February 2020, we consecutively invited ischemic stroke patients aged between 18 to 55 years to participate. Patients in the intervention group used the app between hospital discharge and three months follow-up. The control group received standard clinical care. Modifiable risk factors (physical activity, nutrition, alcohol consumption, smoking behaviour, obesity, and hypertension) were assessed during the initial hospital stay and at a dedicated stroke outpatient department three months post-stroke.

Results: The study cohort comprised 21 patients in the app intervention group (62% male; age=41±11 years; education=12±3 years) and 21 sex-, age- and education-matched control patients with a comparable stroke risk factor profile. Baseline stroke severity was comparable between groups (intervention: median NIHSS=3; control: median NIHSS=4; p=.604). Three months post-stroke, patients in the intervention group reported to be physically almost twice as active (13±9 hours/week) compared to controls (7±5 hours/week; p=.022). More intense app usage was strongly associated with higher physical activity (r=.60, p=.005) and lower consumption of unhealthy food (r=-.51, p=.023). Smoking behaviour (p=.001) and hypertension (p=.003) improved in all patients. Patients in the intervention group described better self-reported health-related quality of life three months post-stroke (p=.003).

Conclusions: Specifically designed app interventions can be an easily to implement and cost-efficient approach to promote a healthier lifestyle in younger stroke patients.