Health intervention on mobile phones can lead to improved lifestyle-related behaviours that can prevent secondary stroke, according to a study of stroke-ready centres in India conducted under the Indian Council of Medical Research's Indian Stroke Clinical Trial Network (INSTRuCT).

The study was conducted in 31 stroke centres across the country. Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability in India. After a stroke, about 15 to 20 per cent of the patients develop another stroke (recurrence).

Discontinuing medicines, lack of control over blood pressure, and blood sugar, continued smoking, alcohol intake and following unhealthy food habits are the main reasons for recurrence.

There are two types of stroke - ischaemic when there is a blockage in one of the brain arteries; and brain haemorrhage, when there is rupture and leakage of one of the arteries which supply blood to the brain. High blood pressure is the number one cause of ischaemic and hemorrhagic strokes.

The trial was conducted by SPRINT-India (Secondary Prevention by Structured Semi-Interactive Stroke Prevention Package) under ICMR's Indian Stroke Clinical Trial Network (INSTRuCT) of stroke-ready centres in India, one of its kind in developing countries and the fourth government-supported network around the world.

The trial's intervention was a package composed of SMS text messages, health education videos and a stroke prevention workbook for patients.

The messages focused on control of blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol, improving physical activity, eating healthy and not missing taking medicines to prevent stroke. The awareness material was systematically developed in 12 different regional languages.

The patients in the control group received standard care whereas those in the intervention arm received awareness at weekly intervals to promote healthy living and adherence to medicines.

A total of 4,298 patients were randomly allocated to the intervention arm (2,148) and control arm (2,150). 1,502 patients in the intervention arm and 1536 patients in the control arm completed a one-year follow-up.

SPRINT India trial used complex behavioural interventions to reduce recurrence of stroke. The results of the trial revealed that a structured semi-interactive stroke prevention package improved lifestyle behavioural factors and adherence to medication, which might have long-term benefits.

The trial went a step further than contemporary trials in assessing the effect on endpoints such as the recurrence of cardiovascular events and deaths.

However, the follow-up period was short to show any differences between the control and intervention groups. The results of the trial were published in the Lancet Global Health journal on February 14, 2023.

Dr Jeyaraj D. Pandian, Professor of Neurology and Principal, of Christian Medical College, Ludhiana and Principal Investigator of the clinical coordinating centre, said that the proportion of patients who stopped smoking (83 per cent) and alcohol (85 per cent) improved in the intervention group as compared to the control group (78 per cent and 75 per cent respectively).

"Adherence to medications was also better in the intervention arm (94 per cent) as compared to the control arm (89 per cent). The events like stroke, heart attack and death did not differ between the two groups (5.5 per cent vs 4.9 per cent) at one-year follow-up. This may be because the follow-up period was too short or study centres were stroke-ready centres, which were already providing good quality of care to stroke patients."

"SPRINT study is the first trial in India (and perhaps globally) to try to assess the role of a health intervention in secondary prevention of stroke at such a large scale. It provides hope in improving lifestyle and medical complications by leveraging technology in a resource-constrained setup. In Phase 2 which started in September 2022, four more stroke trials, which are very relevant to the country, have been initiated by ICMR. We would get answers to important treatments for stroke in the coming years," said Dr Meenakshi Sharma Scientist-G, Noncommunicable Diseases Division, ICMR.