Home›Neurology› Stroke Riskometer app fails to improve Life's Simple 7 score at 6 months
Stroke Riskometer app fails to improve Life's Simple 7 score at 6 monthsMobile App Shows No Significant Change in Stroke Risk Scores
StrokePublished August 9, 2026Study authors: Gall Seana L, Feigin Valery L, Chappell Kate, Thrift Amanda G, Kleinig Timothy J, Cadilhac Dominique…PubMed ↗DOI ↗Editorial oversight: Dr. Ji-eun Park, MD · Brain, Mind & Pain
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Key Takeaway
Consider that the Stroke Riskometer app did not significantly improve Life's Simple 7 scores; its use alone may not alter stroke risk factors.
In a Phase III randomized controlled trial conducted in Australia and New Zealand, 862 adults aged 35 to 75 years with at least 2 stroke risk factors and no prior cardiovascular disease were randomized to either a mobile phone application (Stroke Riskometer) or usual care, which consisted of a single email with generic risk factor information. The primary outcome was the mean between-group difference in Life's Simple 7 score from baseline to 6 months postrandomization. Secondary outcomes included changes in individual Life's Simple 7 components such as blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, body mass index, smoking, physical activity, and diet.
In the intention-to-treat analysis (433 usual care, 429 intervention), the mean difference in Life's Simple 7 score change was 0.03 (95% CI, -0.19 to 0.25; p=0.788), indicating no statistically significant difference. The per-protocol analysis (320 usual care, 276 intervention) showed a mean difference of 0.20 (95% CI, -0.04 to 0.43; p=0.106), also not significant. Physical activity increased in the intervention group compared with usual care, but this difference was not statistically significant (95% CI, -2.80 to 629.65; p=0.052).
Safety outcomes, including adverse events, serious adverse events, discontinuations, and tolerability, were not reported. Limitations were not reported. The study's high internal validity is supported by its Phase III RCT design and intention-to-treat analysis, but the absence of statistically significant findings suggests that the app did not improve overall cardiovascular risk factor scores.
For clinical practice, this evidence does not support the use of the Stroke Riskometer app as a standalone intervention to improve global cardiovascular risk profiles. The nonsignificant trend toward increased physical activity may warrant further investigation, but current findings do not demonstrate a clear benefit.
Researchers conducted a Phase III clinical trial to see if a mobile phone application called the Stroke Riskometer could help adults manage their health. The study included 862 participants in Australia and New Zealand who had at least two stroke risk factors but no history of heart disease.
The researchers compared the app against usual care, which was just one email containing general information about risk factors. They measured changes in a health score called Life's Simple 7, which tracks things like blood pressure, cholesterol, and physical activity over six months.
The results showed no significant difference between those who used the app and those who received standard care. While there was a slight increase in physical activity for some users of the app, this change was not statistically significant. Because the primary goal of improving overall health scores was not met, it is unclear if this specific mobile tool currently changes outcomes compared to standard information.
What this means for you:
The study found no significant difference in health scores between those using the app and those receiving usual care.
Common questions
What was tested in this study?
Researchers tested the Stroke Riskometer mobile phone application. They compared it against usual care, which consisted of one email containing general information about risk factors. The goal was to see if the app could improve a health score called Life's Simple 7 among adults with stroke risk factors.
Did the app help people become more active?
The study showed an increase in physical activity for those using the mobile application compared to those receiving usual care. However, this increase was not statistically significant, meaning the researchers could not confirm if the app caused a meaningful change in exercise habits.
Who participated in this trial?
The study included 862 adults between the ages of 35 and 75. These participants were located in Australia and New Zealand and had at least two stroke risk factors but no history of cardiovascular disease.
BACKGROUND: We evaluated the efficacy of the Stroke Riskometer mobile phone application to change the Life's Simple 7 risk factor score in a primary prevention population at 6 months postrandomization.
METHODS: This phase III, prospective, outcome assessor-blinded, 2-arm randomized controlled trial in Australia and New Zealand recruited participants from August 2021 to January 2024. Inclusion criteria: age ≥35 and ≤75 years; ≥2 risk factors; smartphone ownership; and no cardiovascular disease history. The intervention group was given access to the application; the usual care group received one email with generic risk factor information. The primary outcome was the mean between-group difference in Life's Simple 7 (score 0 [poor] to 14 [ideal], comprising blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, body mass index, smoking, and physical activity and diet) from baseline to 6 months postrandomization. Secondary outcomes were between-group changes in individual Life's Simple 7 items. Analyses were performed using intention-to-treat principles with ANCOVA and linear mixed models to examine differences between groups, with prespecified per-protocol and subgroup analyses.
RESULTS: We randomized 862 participants (mean±SD age, 58±11 years; 63% women; 74% White). At 6 months postrandomization in intention-to-treat analyses, the mean difference between usual care (n=433) and intervention (n=429) groups in the change in Life's Simple 7 score from baseline was 0.03 ([95% CI, -0.19 to 0.25]; =0.788). Per-protocol analyses (n=320 usual care; n=276 intervention) were similar (mean difference in change, 0.20 [95% CI, -0.04 to 0.43]; =0.106). Compared with usual care in intention-to-treat analyses, the intervention group had a nonsignificant increase in metabolic equivalent of task (metabolic equivalent of task) minutes per week of physical activity (313.42 [95% CI, -2.80 to 629.65]; =0.052), with no differences in other Life's Simple 7 items.
CONCLUSIONS: Among a general population aged 35 years to 75 years with ≥2 stroke risk factors, there was no evidence that having access to the application changed overall Life's Simple 7 scores at 6-month follow-up. Participants in the intervention group did have a nonsignificant increase in physical activity, compared with the usual care group, after 6 months, but not in other individual risk factors.
REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.anzctr.org.au/; Unique identifier: ACTRN12621000211864.
