Community-based smart healthcare initiative reduces carotid intima-media thickness and thrombotic markers in patients with hypertension: A prospective study

Objective: Unhealthy lifestyles negatively impact the prognosis and outcomes of cardiovascular disease. The objective of this study is to examine the effects of smart healthcare technology in assisting physicians with monitoring and improving patient lifestyles, as well as adjusting treatment plans on carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and thrombotic markers during the therapeutic management of hypertension. Furthermore, we compared the efficacy of smart healthcare interventions with conventional hospital-based follow-up in ameliorating cardiovascular complications in patients with established hypertension. The goal is to elucidate the optimal timing for clinical interventions and to develop personalized treatment plans to enhance the long-term prognosis of patients with cardiovascular disease.

Methods: A stratified sample of 174 patients with established hypertension from two villages in southeastern China was selected. The study cohort comprised 85 participants in the smart healthcare intervention group and 89 participants in the regular follow-up control group. Changes in median levels of IMT, von Willebrand factor (vWF), P-selectin (P-S), body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, and cholesterol were assessed before and after the study period. Comparative analysis of changes in IMT, vWF, P-S, blood pressure, and cholesterol between the two groups was conducted over the study period.

Results: The intervention group demonstrated significantly greater improvements in IMT, vWF, and P-S levels compared to the control group (P < 0.05). At the 12-month follow-up (T12), blood pressure, BMI, total cholesterol, IMT, P-S, and vWF levels were significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The reduction in IMT was particularly notable, with the intervention group revealing a statistically significant improvement compared to the control group (P < 0.001).

Conclusion: The smart healthcare intervention model resulted in more significant improvements in IMT and thrombotic markers compared to the traditional hospital follow-up model. Patients using the smart blood pressure monitors exhibited significantly lower levels of IMT, vWF, and P-S compared to their pre-intervention levels.