Hispanic Secondary Stroke Prevention Initiative

Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death, and the main cause of adult disability in the US. As the population ages, over the next 3 decades the number of strokes is expected to double. At the same time, the Hispanic population, currently the largest minority group in the US is expected to double. The rapid growth and aging of Hispanics will lead to dramatic future increases in the public health impact of stroke. This group of investigators and others have extensively described the disproportionate burden of stroke and stroke risk factors (SRFs) (e.g. blood pressure, diabetes, and lipids) among Hispanics. Over the last two decades, community health workers (CHWs) have emerged as one of the more promising strategies at addressing Latino health disparities. However, evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) supporting this approach remains limited. Recent technology based interventions, particularly those using mobile-based platforms (e.g. phone text messaging), have shown tremendous potential at improving outcomes among minority populations. This team's ongoing line of investigation is testing Community Health Workers (CHWs) interventions through rigorous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) aimed at improving clinical outcomes for a variety of health conditions including diabetes, cancer and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) disease. The investigators are also leading several studies addressing ProMobile technologies among minority elders. To date, preliminary data suggests each of these two approaches independently may lead to considerable improvements in some stroke risk factors (SRFs). However, evidence for the use of these combined approaches from studies using rigorous experimental designs for most health conditions has been limited. Further, data on these promising interventions among Hispanic stroke patients remains a major gap in the field of stroke disparities.

In the Hispanic Secondary Stroke Prevention Intervention (HISSPI),the investigators propose a translational research study addressing minority health in the form of a pragmatic clinical trial aimed at improving health outcomes among Latinos. The project extends their ongoing work with Community Health Workers (CHWs) and mobile phone technologies to examine the effectiveness of this combined multilevel intervention as an adjunct to routine health care targeting stroke risk factors (SRFs) among Hispanic patients having had a recent stroke. The investigators focus on this group of patients because they have an over 25% risk of recurrent stroke in the next five years, with the second stroke often being much more debilitating than the first stroke.

The study will be conducted at two hospitals in Miami-Dade county (one public, one private). With a highly diverse Latino population, both Caribbean and Central/South Americans, Miami is an ideal laboratory to test such an approach in an immigrant community facing numerous distinct barriers to quality stroke care. Hispanic Secondary Stroke Prevention Initiative (HISPPI) also leverages existing resources, including those of the recently funded Florida Puerto Rico Collaboration to Reduce Stroke Disparities and the Clinical Translational Science Award (CTSA). The investigators expect this translational research to provide new insights on approaches that can transform medical practice and improve health outcomes in Latino populations; particularly, in the context of ongoing reforms in health care delivery. The study design is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of 300 Latino stroke patients admitted with an ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, having a minimal to moderate disability as a result of the stroke but whom are ambulatory modified Rankin Scale (mRS) <=3.

Primary Objectives: Based on evidence based guidelines to prevent a recurrent stroke, the investigators will determine if the proposed intervention results in improved systolic blood pressure among the intervention versus usual care group. Blood pressure management is the single most important risk factor for preventing a recurrent stroke.

Secondary Objectives: The investigators will also examine if the proposed intervention results in improvements in other secondary stroke risk factors including low density lipoprotein, adherence to statin therapy,adherence to antiplatelet/anti-thrombotic therapy, and among patients with diabetes, better glycemic control.