Efficacy of an mHealth intervention using interactive voice response system in reducing cardiovascular risk in a rural population in India: cluster randomized trial

Objective We evaluated efficacy of mHealth technology for reducing cardiovascular risk among metabolic syndrome individuals in India. Methods We screened 1012 adults in 10 villages (clusters) in north-west India for presence of metabolic syndrome. Participants with inclusion criteria were randomized. Ownership of cell-phone was essential. We developed user-friendly interactive voice response system in Hindi based on transtheoretical model of behavior change. Two messages for promotion of healthy lifestyle and medical treatments were broadcast daily over 12-months in intervention clusters and queries answered. Lifestyle and biochemical factors were assessed at baseline and at 12-months. Results 1012 rural individuals aged 20–60y in 10 villages were screened, majority were women (53%) and less literate (76%). Metabolic syndrome was in 286 (28.3%). These were divided into 5 control (n=136) and 5 intervention (n=147) clusters. Baseline characteristics in participants in control and intervention clusters were similar. At 12 months, significantly greater participants in intervention clusters had better lifestyle features and lower waist circumference, body mass index, systolic BP, fasting glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides (Table). Conclusion An interactive voice response system based technology significantly reduced multiple cardiovascular risk factors in metabolic syndrome individuals in rural India.