A MHealth Intervention to Preserve and Promote Ideal Cardiovascular Health in College Students: Design and Protocol of a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death globally. Seven health factors are associated with ideal cardiovascular health: being a non-smoker; not overweight; physically active; having a healthy diet; and normal blood pressure; fasting plasma glucose and cholesterol. Whereas approximately half of U.S. youth have ideal levels in at least 5 of the 7 components of cardiovascular health, this proportion falls to 16% by adulthood.

Objective: We will evaluate whether the NUYou cardiovascular mHealth intervention is more effective than an active comparator to promote cardiovascular health during the transition to young adulthood.

Methods: 302 incoming freshmen at a midwest university will be cluster randomized by dormitory into one of two mHealth intervention groups: 1) Cardiovascular Health (CVH), addressing behaviors related to CVD risk; or 2) Whole Health (WH), addressing behaviors unrelated to CVD. Both groups will receive smartphone applications, co-designed with students to help them manage time, interact with other participants via social media, and report health behaviors weekly. The CVH group will also have self-monitoring features to track their risk behaviors. Cardiovascular health will be assessed at the beginning of freshman year and the end of freshman and sophomore years. Linear mixed models will be used to compare groups on a composite of the seven cardiovascular-related health factors.

Significance: This is the first entirely technology-mediated multiple health behavior change intervention delivered to college students to promote cardiovascular health. Findings will inform the potential for primordial prevention in young adulthood.

Trial Registration Number: clinicaltrials.gov #NCT02496728.