Mobile Lifestyle Intervention m-LIfE to Improve Heart Health and Habits in Sedentary Bank Employees in Karachi

What this Trial Is About

Cardiovascular diseases CVD are a leading cause of death worldwide, especially in developing countries like Pakistan. The age at which CVD occurs is decreasing, and many urban bank employees in Karachi lead sedentary lifestyles, sitting more than 8 hours a day with little physical activity and unhealthy diets. This study aims to develop and test the m-LIfE mobile app to help these high-risk sedentary employees improve their physical activity and diet to prevent CVD. The research involves a pilot cluster randomized controlled trial conducted by Aga Khan University in bank branches across Karachi. Participants will be divided into two groups the intervention arm will use the m-LIfE app for 12 weeks, which delivers educational content, reminders, motivational messages, and tracks physical activity and diet. The app also allows two-way communication with the research team. The routine care arm will receive printed educational pamphlets about heart disease prevention but no app access. After the 12-week intervention, there is a 4-week follow-up to assess if healthy habits are maintained. During the study, participants will be assessed at baseline, post-intervention week 12, and follow-up week 16. Researchers will measure recruitment and retention rates, treatment adherence to the app, and potential changes in physical activity and diet. The goal is to evaluate the feasibility and possible benefits of using the mHealth app to support lifestyle improvements among sedentary office employees. The study is expected to help find affordable ways to reduce heart disease risk in this population.

Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Strategies for High-risk Urban Sedentary Employees in Karachi, Pakistan