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The Nueva Ecija Cardiovascular Risk Experiment

Not Applicable
Conditions
Cardiovascular Diseases
Cardiovascular Risk Factor
Interventions
Behavioral: Lottery Incentive
Behavioral: Information on CVD Risk
Registration Number
NCT03512691
Lead Sponsor
UPecon Foundation, Inc.
Brief Summary

This study seeks to assess how beliefs about health risks, specifically the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), affect health lifestyles and the demand for preventive care in a low-income setting. It also aims to establish the effectiveness of the Package of Essential Noncommunicable Disease Interventions in the Philippines (PhilPEN) in delivering primary prevention of CVD. To meet these objectives, the study is designed as a randomized parallel experiment with two separate, non-overlapping treatment groups and one control group. The experiment will be implemented in Nueva Ecija province, Philippines.

Detailed Description

This study seeks to assess how beliefs about health risks, specifically the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), affect health lifestyles and the demand for preventive care in a low-income setting. It also aims to establish the effectiveness of the Package of Essential Noncommunicable Disease Interventions in the Philippines (PhilPEN) in delivering primary prevention of CVD.To realize the first objective, the investigators will measure the accuracy of beliefs about exposure to CVD risk and, subsequently, randomly provide information on personal CVD risk based on measured risk factors. This will allow assessment of the extent to which biased beliefs constrain demand for primary prevention and sustain unhealthy lifestyles. In addition, the investigators will test whether beliefs about susceptibility to CVD are responsive to the receipt of information on personal risk, and whether health behaviors and the demand for CVD screening and medication are affected by any revision of beliefs.

To meet the second objective the investigators will randomly encourage uptake of the PhilPEN program's risk screening by offering entry to a money prize lottery conditional on attending a health clinic where the program operates. The induced random variation in clinic attendance will be used to estimate the program's impact on exposure to risk factors, medication of hypertension, the predicted risk of CVD and awareness of this risk.

Meeting both objectives will allow the investigators to distinguish between scenarios. One is that PhilPEN is effective in preventing CVD of patients who access the program but its impact on population health is muted because poor information on susceptibility to CVD reduces the demand for primary prevention. Another is that even if improved information is effective in raising this demand, this will have little impact on population health through PhilPEN because of deficiencies in the operation of the program in health facilities.

Within the Nueva Ecija province, the investigators will randomly sample barangays (N=304), subsequently households (n=5019) and, finally, one person aged 40-70 within each household. At the barangay level, the investigators will randomly allocate to a treatment group receiving the lottery incentive to attend a health clinic (n=2261), another treatment group receiving information on personal CVD risk (n=497) and a control group (n=2261). A baseline survey (January-April 2018) will record data on initial health, health behavior, health knowledge, risk perceptions, risk attitudes, time preferences, health care utilization and expenditure and socioeconomic characteristics, and deliver the treatments. A follow-up survey 9-12 months later will record outcomes.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
5019
Inclusion Criteria
  • Individuals aged 40-70 years old
  • Residents of Nueva Ecija province
  • Those that have been diagnosed with hypertension but are not currently (past two weeks) taking antihypertensives
Exclusion Criteria
  • Individuals aged below 40 years old or above 70 years old
  • Individuals who report they have been diagnosed as having heart disease or diabetes, or who report that they have had a heart attack or a stroke
  • Those currently (past 2 weeks) taking medication for hypertension or for diabetes
  • Those who have some medical problems that prevents measurement of blood pressure or BMI

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Lottery IncentiveLottery IncentiveRespondents will be offered a ticket for a lottery with a money prize on condition that they visit a specific public health clinic for a checkup. There will be one prize per barangay giving each respondent a one in ten chance of winning P5000 (US$100). The prize is equivalent to approximately 14 days earnings at the regional minimum wage.
Information on CVD riskInformation on CVD RiskRespondents will receive information on the predicted probability of having a heart attack or stroke within 10 years. The predictions will be obtained from the Globorisk tool (www.globorisk.org). All information will be provided within a risk perceptions module of the baseline survey. Only this module will differ across the two treatment groups (information and lottery) and the control group. Information obtained from earlier modules will be retrieved automatically and used to make predictions of CVD risk consistent with the risk factor profile of the respondent.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Mean 10-year risk of CVD event (heart attack/stroke)6-9 months

Predicted probability of having a heart attack or stroke within 10 years obtained from office version of Globorisk (www.globorisk.org) based on age, sex, systolic blood pressure, body mass index (BMI) and smoking status recorded in end-point survey. Group mean of predictions will be calculated.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Diet (intake of fruits, vegetables and salty foods)6-9 months

A measure of health behavior consistent with those of WHO STEPS.

Exercise6-9 months

A measure of health behavior consistent with those of WHO STEPS.

Mean systolic blood pressure (SBP)6-9 months

Predicted CVD risk is function of blood pressure, BMI and smoking. We will also estimate effects on these risk factors separately. Mean of last two SBP measures on single visit. BP measured using electronic (OMRON) wrap cuff monitor.

Proportion overweight/obese (BMI>25)6-9 months

Predicted CVD risk is function of blood pressure, BMI and smoking. We will also estimate effects on these risk factors separately. Height and weight measured using standardized instruments.

Proportion currently smoking6-9 months

Predicted CVD risk is function of blood pressure, BMI and smoking. We will also estimate effects on these risk factors separately.

Proportion with undiagnosed hypertension6-9 months

A measure of diagnosis and medication of hypertension. Numerator = systolic/diastolic BP ≥ 140/90 + not diagnosed with hypertension. Denominator = all respondents.

Proportion taking antihypertensive medication in the last 2 weeks.6-9 months

A measure of diagnosis and medication of hypertension. Numerator = systolic/diastolic BP ≥ 140/90 + not diagnosed with hypertension. Denominator = all respondents.

Mean waist circumference6-9 months

Globorisk predicted 10-year CVD risk is not a function of central adiposity, but this is measured as part of PhilPEN risk assessment. Weight circumference will be measured followed a standardized procedure.

Proportion with 10-year CVD risk ≥ 10%6-9 months

Predicted risk obtained from Globorisk as for primary outcome. If power permits, will also estimate effects on proportion with CVD risk\>20% and \>30%.

Proportion with elevated blood pressure (systolic ≥140)6-9 months

Predicted CVD risk is function of blood pressure, BMI and smoking. We will also estimate effects on these risk factors separately. Mean of last two SBP measures on single visit. BP measured using electronic (OMRON) wrap cuff monitor.

Mean BMI6-9 months

Predicted CVD risk is function of blood pressure, BMI and smoking. We will also estimate effects on these risk factors separately. Height and weight measured using standardized instruments.

Alcohol consumption6-9 months

A measure of health behavior consistent with those of World Health Organization (WHO) STEPS.

Knowledge of CVD and diabetes risk factors6-9 months

Knowledge of CVD and diabetes risk factors assessed using questions adapted from previously fielded instruments.

Proportion with waist circumference ≥ 90cm (men) / 80cm (women).6-9 months

Globorisk predicted 10-year CVD risk is not a function of central adiposity, but this is measured as part of PhilPEN risk assessment. Weight circumference will be measured followed a standardized procedure.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

UPecon Foundation

🇵🇭

Quezon City, Philippines

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