[Impact of an interactive web application on the improvement of cardiovascular risk factors control. Control-RCV project]

Abstract

Objective: To ascertain the utility of an interactive web application in the improvement of cardiovascular (CV) risk control.

Methods: Observational study in which primary care physicians consecutively included high/very high CV risk patients with at least one of the following risk factors poorly controlled: hypertension, dyslipidemia or diabetes. After the introduction of data, the application generated a report comparing the recommended and the real targets. Then, the physicians could modify the therapeutic approach. The study consisted of 2 visits, at baseline and after 4-6 months.

Results: A total of 379 patients (66.4±9.0 years; 67.3% male; 67.5/32.5% with high/very high CV risk) were included. At baseline, most patients received recommendations about salt restriction (90.2%), diet (94.2%), and physical activity (94.5%). With regard to pharmacological treatments, 53.6% of patients were not taking fixed-dose combinations. Only 35.1% met always with treatment. In 95.8% of patients sanitary education was given, in 29.8% the polypill was prescribed and in 24.3% lifestyle changes were recommended. During the second visit, a significant improvement in lifestyle changes (less smoking and alcohol consumption, and more physical activity, salt restriction and diet), CV risk factors (less obesity, blood pressure, lipids, HbA1c), as well as CV risk reduction were observed. The therapeutic compliance also improved.

Conclusions: The use of the application allows improving lifestyle and CV risk factors control, leading to a reduction of CV risk and an improvement of therapeutic compliance.

Keywords: Aplicaciones; Applications; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular risk; Enfermedad cardiovascular; Riesgo cardiovascular; Salud móvil; mHealth.