Effectiveness of mobile phone messaging in prevention of type 2 diabetes by lifestyle modification in men in India: a prospective, parallel-group, randomised controlled trial.

The lancet. Diabetes & endocrinology · 2013 · Benefit · High evidence

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BenefitHigh evidencePaper 3091

In this randomized controlled trial, cumulative incidence of type 2 diabetes was lower in the mobile phone messaging group (50/271; 18%) than in controls (73/266; 27%) with hazard ratio 0.64 (95% CI 0.45–0.92; p=0.015). One sudden death occurred in the contro…

Study snapshot

PublicationThe lancet. Diabetes & endocrinology · 2013

Study typerandomized_trial

Reported directionBenefit

Evidence ratingHigh

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes can often be prevented by lifestyle modification; however, successful lifestyle intervention programmes are labour intensive. Mobile phone messaging is an inexpensive alternative way to deliver educational and motivational advice about lifestyle modification. We aimed to assess whether mobile phone messaging that encouraged lifestyle change could reduce incident type 2 diabetes in Indian Asian men with impaired glucose tolerance. METHODS: We did a prospective, parallel-group, randomised controlled trial between Aug 10, 2009, and Nov 30, 2012, at ten sites in southeast India. Working Indian men (aged 35-55 years) with impaired glucose tolerance were randomly assigned (1:1) with a computer-generated randomisation sequence to a mobile phone messaging intervention or standard care (control group). Participants in the intervention group received frequent mobile phone messages compared with controls who received standard lifestyle modification advice at baseline only. Field staff and participants were, by necessity, not masked to study group assignment, but allocation was concealed from laboratory personnel as well as principal and co-investigators. The primary outcome was incidence of type 2 diabetes, analysed by intention to treat. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00819455. RESULTS: We assessed 8741 participants for eligibility. 537 patients were randomly assigned to either the mobile phone messaging intervention (n=271) or standard care (n=266). The cumulative incidence of type 2 diabetes was lower in those who received mobile phone messages than in controls: 50 (18%) participants in the intervention group developed type 2 diabetes compared with 73 (27%) in the control group (hazard ratio 0·64, 95% CI 0·45-0·92; p=0·015). The number needed to treat to prevent one case of type 2 diabetes was 11 (95% CI 6-55). One patient in the control group died suddenly at the end of the first year. We recorded no other serious adverse events. INTERPRETATION: Mobile phone messaging is an effective and acceptable method to deliver advice and support towards lifestyle modification to prevent type 2 diabetes in men at high risk. FUNDING: The UK India Education and Research Initiative, the World Diabetes Foundation.

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AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typerandomized_trial

Effect directionbenefit

PopulationWorking Indian men aged 35–55 years with impaired glucose tolerance (10 sites in southeast India)

Sample size537

Exposurefrequent mobile phone messages (vs baseline-only advice)

Evidence strengthHighConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Incidence of type 2 diabetes
Serious adverse events
Mortality

Limitations

Field staff and participants were not masked to group assignment

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "randomized_trial",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "frequent mobile phone messages (vs baseline-only advice)"
  },
  "population": "Working Indian men aged 35–55 years with impaired glucose tolerance (10 sites in southeast India)",
  "sample_size": 537,
  "outcomes": [
    "Incidence of type 2 diabetes",
    "Serious adverse events",
    "Mortality"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In this randomized controlled trial, cumulative incidence of type 2 diabetes was lower in the mobile phone messaging group (50/271; 18%) than in controls (73/266; 27%) with hazard ratio 0.64 (95% CI 0.45–0.92; p=0.015). One sudden death occurred in the control group; no other serious adverse events were recorded.",
  "effect_direction": "benefit",
  "limitations": [
    "Field staff and participants were not masked to group assignment"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "high",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "mobile phone messaging",
    "text messages",
    "lifestyle modification",
    "type 2 diabetes prevention",
    "impaired glucose tolerance",
    "India",
    "randomised controlled trial"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1016/s2213-8587(13)70067-6
PubMed: 24622367

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