EVIDENT II trial: Smartphone apps may slow artery aging

Patients who utilize a healthy lifestyle smartphone application may be able to slow arterial aging, according to results from the EVIDENT II trial presented at EuroHeartCare 2018 in Dublin.

Led by Jose Ignacio Recio-Rodriguez of the University of Salamanca in Spain, researchers aimed to assess the impact of modern technology to promote healthy living habits.

The EVIDENT II trial tested whether utilizing a smartphone application could slow artery aging provided the cohort improve compliance with a Mediterranean diet and participate in physical activity equal to at least 10,000 steps per day.

The study cohort included 597 participants using three indexes: the peripheral augmentation index, evaluated by tonometry and the cardio-ankle vascular index, and pulse wave velocity index, measured by oscillometry.

The researchers found no differences between the application and counseling-only groups in any of the indicators at baseline. After three months, the app users had significant improvement in the peripheral augmentation indicators. The index, however, worsened in study subjects who received only diet and exercise advice.

At the three months after baseline, neither group had improved its physical activity level using an accelerometer, but the app group improved physical activity by answering a seven-day physical activity recall questionnaire.

At three months post baseline:

- Neither group improved their physical activity level using an accelerometer.

- The application group improved their physical activity level using a 7-day physical activity recall questionnaire.

- Both the application group and the counselling only group improved their adherence to a Mediterranean-based diet; however, the application group had better results in adjusting diet composition—including lower percentages of saturated and total fats. The application group also reduced their intake of trans fats and processed meats.

“Healthy lifestyle apps could be a powerful weapon against arterial ageing. But studies are still needed to demonstrate their ability to reduce heart attacks and death from cardiovascular disease,” Recio-Rodriguez said.