09

Jul 2018

'Text Me' alert system helping heart attack sufferers maintain treatment after hospital

Published in General on July 09, 2018

Every year, roughly 55,000 Australians go to the hospital because of a heart attack. Of these, a third are repeat heart attacks. A new text message alert system is being trialled across Australia, in a bid to combat heart attacks. After leaving the hospital, the system provides patients with important follow-up information.

After Hospital

Professor Clara Chow is the Director of Applied Research Centre at Westmead Hospital. When asked about the new system, she said:

"People often think they're cured after they've left hospital with a heart attack, but they're left with heart disease and that heart disease needs to be looked after. We've been amazed at how effective 'TEXT ME' has been. We ran a randomised clinical trial that demonstrated that people receiving 'TEXT ME' had lower LDL cholesterol, blood pressure, were more likely to lose weight, give up smoking and more likely to be physically active.”

Common problems for patients after they leave hospital include taking their medication inappropriately and not making necessary lifestyle changes. Without these, a second heart attack is much more likely. Second heart attacks are also much more likely to be fatal than the first.

Text Message Reminders

Westmead Hospital is at the forefront of the national trial. The text messaging system delivers alerts and reminders to patients every day. These give them advice on everything from their medication, exercise, and diet, following their discharge from hospital.

Ben Sharma, aged 68, is one of the patients who has received the daily alerts since leaving the hospital.

"(It is) giving you hints on exercise, what to eat - it even tells you what to eat in the mornings, evenings, lunchtime and also tells you about your medications,” he went on, “With a busy life, you tend to forget a lot of things."

Exercise

Some researchers have pointed to the importance of exercise, and how this system encourages patients to do it.

"There's increasing information to say that exercise is nothing but good," said Dr. Chow.

20 hospitals, representing 1400 patients, are currently involved in the trial. The results are expected to be reported at the end of the year.

Most Recent

$The team at Griffith University is calling on Australians aged 45 and over — especially those at risk of fractures — to join a unique new research project. Known as the STOP FRACTURE! study, it is evaluating the real-world rollout of an exercise programme called ONERO, aiming to boost bone strength and significantly cut down on low-trauma breaks. Led by Belinda Beck of the School of Health Sciences and Social Work, the project is grounded in the fact that not all exercise is created equal when it comes to osteoporosis. Traditional care has focused almost exclusively on medications, but the ONERO programme uses supervised weight-lifting under specialist guidance — a major shift from the belief that people with bone weakness should avoid resistance training. Professor Beck highlights how silent osteoporosis can be: many people only realise they have low bone mass after a seemingly minor incident causes a fracture. The study aims not only to lower fracture risk via effective exercise, but also to ramp up referral rates from GPs to this kind of therapy. The research draws on almost a decade of translational work at the Bone Clinic (launched in 2015) where ONERO has been implemented into routine clinical care, with participants of all ages — including men, post-menopausal women, and even individuals over 90 — showing positive results. “Once you have your first fracture, you’re four times more likely to have another,” Professor Beck notes. The STOP FRACTURE! Trial aims to change that trajectory by making strong, supervised resistance training accessible and practical for people identified as at-risk. For participants who may need to travel for clinic visits or follow-up appointments, accommodation near hospitals and research centres in Melbourne — such as those offered by serviced apartment providers like Corporate Keys — can make participation easier. These long-stay accommodations provide comfort, privacy, and kitchen facilities, ideal for individuals recovering from injury or attending ongoing medical consultations. If you’re interested in taking part in this Australian study — whether you’re just concerned about bone health or already have a history of fragility fractures — you can find more information through the study survey link, email stopfracture@griffith.edu.au, or call (07) 5552-9659.$

Volunteers Needed for Breakthrough Osteoporosis Exercise Study