A Cluster-Randomized, Controlled Trial of a Simplified Multifaceted Management Program for Individuals at High Cardiovascular Risk (SimCard Trial) in Rural Tibet, China, and Haryana, India. Issue 9 (1st September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tian, Maoyi; Ajay, Vamadevan S.; Dunzhu, Danzeng; Hameed, Safraj S.; Li, Xian; Liu, Zhong; Li, Cong; Chen, Hao; Cho, KaWing; Li, Ruilai; Zhao, Xingshan; Jindal, Devraj; Rawal, Ishita; Ali, Mohammed K.; Peterson, Eric D.; Ji, Jiachao; Amarchand, Ritvik; Krishnan, Anand; Tandon, Nikhil; Xu, Li-Qun; Wu, Yangfeng; Prabhakaran, Dorairaj; Yan, Lijing L.
• Is Part Of: Circulation. Volume 132:Issue 9(2015)
• Publication Date: 2015-09-01
• Subjects: Blood -- Circulation -- Periodicals; Cardiovascular system -- Periodicals; Cardiology -- Periodicals; Heart -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Blood Circulation; Cardiovascular System; Vascular Diseases; 616.1
• DOI: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.115.015373
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-7322

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec> <title>Background—</title> <p>In rural areas in China and India, the cardiovascular disease burden is high but economic and healthcare resources are limited. This study (the Simplified Cardiovascular Management Study [SimCard]) aims to develop and evaluate a simplified cardiovascular management program delivered by community health workers with the aid of a smartphone-based electronic decision support system.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Methods and Results—</title> <p>The SimCard study was a yearlong cluster-randomized, controlled trial conducted in 47 villages (27 in China and 20 in India). Recruited for the study were 2086 individuals with high cardiovascular risk (aged ≥40 years with self-reported history of coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes mellitus, and/or measured systolic blood pressure ≥160 mm Hg). Participants in the intervention villages were managed by community health workers through an Android-powered app on a monthly basis focusing on 2 medication use and 2 lifestyle modifications. In comparison with the control group, the intervention group had a 25.5% (<italic>P</italic><0.001) higher net increase in the primary outcome of the proportion of patient-reported antihypertensive medication use pre- and post-intervention. There were also significant differences in certain secondary outcomes: aspirin use (net difference: 17.1%; <italic>P</italic><0.001) and systolic blood pressure (–2.7 mm Hg; <italic>P</italic>=0.04). However, no significant changes were observed in the lifestyle factors. The intervention was culturally tailored, and country-specific results revealed important differences between the regions.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Conclusions—</title> <p>The results indicate that the simplified cardiovascular management program improved quality of primary care and clinical outcomes in resource-poor settings in China and India. Larger trials in more places are needed to ascertain the potential impacts on mortality and morbidity outcomes.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Clinical Trial Registration—</title> <p>URL: <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xlink:href="http://www.clinicaltrials.gov" xlink:type="simple" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">http://www.clinicaltrials.gov</ext-link>. Unique identifier: NCT01503814.</p> </sec> </abstract>