NUYou: Results from a cluster randomized trial testing a mHealth cardiovascular health intervention in young adults

Abstract

Objective: We studied whether cardiovascular health promotion via mHealth intervention was effective in a sample of adults entering college. Participants: 301 Freshmen at a Northwestern University were cluster randomized by residence hall. Methods: We compared 2 conditions delivered via custom smartphone apps: (1) Cardiovascular Health, an intervention addressing behaviors related to cardiovascular disease risk; or (2) Whole Health, an active control addressing behaviors unrelated to cardiovascular disease. The primary outcome was the AHA's Life's Simple Seven (LSS) composite score. Outcomes were assessed in-person at baseline, 1 and 2 years. Linear mixed models were used to compare the groups on the composite score. Results: We found no significant group, time, or group by time differences in LSS. Participants were relatively healthy at baseline and stable over time. Cholesterol increased by 5.24 mg/dL from Baseline to Year 1 and by 7.39 mg/dL from Baseline to Year 2 in both groups. Conclusions: mHealth interventions focused on cardiovascular health did not show appreciable difference from those addressing more general health behaviors. Low engagement in the intervention could have contributed to the null findings and future research is needed to determine if mHealth strategies could be improved as an intervening modality.

Keywords: Cardiovascular health; cluster randomized trial; health promotion; mHealth; young adults.