Digital Health Education to Improve Cardiovascular Health Across Different Socioeconomic Groups: e-DUCASS Advance

The e-DUCASS Advance study is a randomized study evaluating whether a 24-month digital health education program can improve cardiovascular health among people living in Córdoba, Spain, and representing different socioeconomic backgrounds and areas of the city. Approximately 600 participants aged 12 to 79 years will be enrolled. Participants will be assigned by family so that members of the same family remain in the same study group. All participants will first receive an initial basic health education workshop covering healthy eating, physical activity, sleep, tobacco use, and other health-related behaviors. Families will then be randomly assigned to one of two groups. The control group will receive no additional educational intervention, whereas the digital intervention group will receive weekly educational content through a web-based application or messaging channels. This content will include short videos, infographics, knowledge assessments, motivational activities, and access to support. Cardiovascular health will be assessed at baseline, 12 months, and 24 months using the American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8 score. This score evaluates diet, physical activity, nicotine exposure, sleep, body mass index, blood lipids, blood glucose, and blood pressure. The study will compare changes in cardiovascular health between the two groups and examine whether the effect of the program differs according to the socioeconomic characteristics of the participants' areas of residence. Other assessments will include adherence to a Mediterranean lifestyle, health and nutrition literacy, physical activity and sedentary behavior, chronotype, quality of life, anxiety, and depression.