Integrated Telehealth After Stroke Care

Hypertension is the single most modifiable risk factor for prevention of secondary stroke. However, blood pressure (BP) remains poorly controlled after a stroke in up to 55% of survivors. Uncontrolled hypertension is associated with lack of support, low level of independence, poor medication adherence and limited self-efficacy. These barriers are compounded following stroke with limited access to outpatient care. Sedentary behavior prevalence after stroke is high in both inpatient and community settings. Addressing physical activity may be a simple strategy to help counter growing health concerns during the pandemic from social restrictions.

Pre-COVID, the investigator created TASC (Telehealth After Stroke Care), an interdisciplinary telehealth clinic inclusive of primary care, pharmacy, and stroke specialists to address complex post-acute transitions of care and improve BP control. However, BP monitoring alone at best has a modest impact on medication adherence and health behaviors. As telehealth services expand during the pandemic, there is greater incentivization to devise interventions that utilize remote care to foster effective self-management.

Improving health behaviors through remote monitoring and patient tailored feedback in an integrated post-acute stroke care model has not been studied. Integrated TASC (iTASC) is a telehealth intervention inclusive of interdisciplinary care and remote technology including BP monitoring and tracked activity, supplemented by infographics tailored with the patient's own data, to enhance BP control and drive health behavior modification.

In this proof-of-concept trial, the investigator will compare early post-stroke BP management among post-acute stroke patients at discharge randomized to the iTASC intervention or usual care (primary care and stroke physician follow up without remote monitoring) with a primary outcome of BP control defined by the mean 24-hr BP at 3 months.

• Integrated Telehealth After Stroke Care (Behavioral), also known as iTASC: • 3 week and 8 week follow up visits with pharmacy through telehealth Patients will provide home blood pressure monitoring kits at discharge for the first three months. The telemonitor that can send blood pressure readings, wirelessly or through telephone, to a secure server where study staff can look at the readings. Any blood pressure readings that are not within normal range will trigger an alert to be sent to study staff who will then follow up with the patient. A trained staff member will show the patient how to use the blood pressure monitor. Patients will be asked to take blood pressure at least 3 days per week and transmit the readings to study staff. Patients will also be asked to wear an activity monitor starting at 4 weeks.
• Usual post-stroke follow-up care (Behavioral), also known as Standard of care practice: * 1-2 weeks follow up visit with primary care. * 4-6 week and 12 week follow up visit with stroke practitioner * At the end of the study, patients will be asked questions regarding their experience with the telehealth visits, health, medication taking and quality of life

Primary outcomes

• Mean 24-hr systolic blood pressure (SBP) through remote monitoring at 3 months [3 Months]: A home blood pressure telemonitor will send blood pressure readings, wirelessly or through telephone, to a secure server where study staff can look at the readings. Patients will be asked to take blood pressure at least 3 days per week. The readings will be averaged to obtain the mean measurement.
• Difference in systolic blood pressure (SBP) from baseline to 3 months [Baseline and 3 months]: A home blood pressure telemonitor will send blood pressure readings, wirelessly or through telephone, to a secure server where study staff can look at the readings. This is designed to measure the change in SBP from baseline to 3 months.

Sex: All, ages: 18 Years to any

Inclusion Criteria:

* 18 years or older
* have had a stroke and have high blood pressure

Exclusion Criteria:

* unable to provide informed consent

• Syeda Imama A. Naqvi, MD, Principal investigator, Assistant Professor of Neurology at the Columbia University

NIH grants: KL2TR001874