A Novel Just-in-Time Contextual Mobile App Intervention to Reduce Sodium Intake in Hypertension: Protocol and Rationale for a Randomized Controlled Trial (LowSalt4Life Trial)

Background: High sodium intake is a significant public health problem in the United States. Interventions that lower sodium intake can decrease blood pressure and improve cardiovascular outcomes. Restaurants and grocery stores are prime targets for intervention with about 77% of all sodium intake in the average US diet coming from processed and restaurant foods.

Objective: This study proposes that a mobile app intervention that promotes low-sodium alternatives at grocery stores and restaurants will reduce dietary intake of sodium and improve confidence following a low-sodium diet in hypertension.

Methods: In this single-center, prospective, open-label study, patients will be randomized to a mobile app or usual care for 8 weeks. We will randomize 50 patients (age>18 years) diagnosed with hypertension and on antihypertensive therapy for at least 3 months in a 1:1 manner stratified by gender. Study subjects will receive the mobile app, LowSalt4Life, or usual dietary advice for 8 weeks. LowSalt4Life provides a multifaceted intervention based on just-in-time contextual tailored messages at grocery stores and restaurants. The primary endpoint is the change in the estimated 24-hour urinary excretion of sodium from spot urine. Secondary outcomes include change in the sodium content of the food frequency questionnaire, confidence in following a low-sodium diet, urine chloride and creatinine dipsticks, and blood pressure.

Results: The project was funded in May 2016 until April 2018. This trial is currently enrolling patients. To date, 26 of the 50 patients needed have been enrolled. Results will be available in the Spring of 2019.

Conclusions: This randomized controlled trial will test the efficacy of just-in-time contextual tailored messages through a novel mobile app 8-week intervention on urinary sodium excretion in patients with hypertension. We will address a critical evidence gap in the care of patients with hypertension. If effective, this intervention could be scaled to assess effects on blood pressure and cardiovascular events in hypertension.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03099343; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03099343 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/735HNzKlQ).

International registered report identifier (irrid): PRR1-10.2196/11282.