Does a personalized Heart Age report with brief physician explanation improve cardiovascular risk awareness and health behaviors in older adults with hypertension?
This protocol outlines a pragmatic trial to evaluate whether embedding personalized Heart Age risk communication into routine primary care improves cardiovascular risk awareness and self-management behaviors in older adults with hypertension.
BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in China, with hypertension as the most common modifiable risk factor. Despite comprehensive primary care based on chronic disease management, patients' awareness of CVD risk and motivation for self-management remain suboptimal. METHODS: This study is a parallel-group, individually randomized controlled trial conducted within routine chronic disease management at a community health center in Kunshan, China. Approximately 400 adults aged 60 years and above with hypertension will be randomly allocated (1:1) to receive either a personalized Heart Age report with brief physician explanation or usual care. The primary outcome is CVD risk awareness at 3 months. Secondary outcomes include changes in self-reported physical activity, diet, and medication adherence. An exploratory analysis of clinical indicators (blood pressure, glucose, lipids, BMI) will be conducted at 12 months. Implementation outcomes (feasibility, acceptability, fidelity) will also be assessed. DISCUSSION: This pragmatic trial integrates a personalized Heart Age risk communication model into routine chronic disease management. By embedding brief, physician-delivered risk feedback within existing primary care workflows, the intervention seeks to improve patient awareness and encourage self-management behaviors without increasing resource burden. Findings will inform the feasibility and scalability of personalized risk communication strategies in low-resource primary care settings. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBERS: NCT07045363.
Wang et al. (Wed,) studied this question.