๐ฌIn plain words
What the trial is, and whether it could suit you
This two-arm randomized controlled trial will evaluate whether an artificial intelligence-assisted personalized heat-risk alert system reduces heat-related illness symptom burden among adults with chronic conditions. The intervention will integrate prespecified clinical characteristics with the Pakistan Meteorological Department's same-day forecast maximum temperature to classify individual heat-related acute clinical-event risk and deliver personalized alerts through a mobile application. The control group will receive a generic PMD heat-health advisory through the same application.
Sign in to get the eligibility rules as simple questions to take to your doctor.
๐ Eligibility rules (as published)
Inclusion Criteria:
* Adults aged 18 years or older attending the outpatient department of the selected tertiary-care hospital during the recruitment period.
* Have a documented diagnosis of at least one chronic non-communicable disease associated with increased susceptibility to heat-related illness, including hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, or obesity (BMI โฅ30 kg/mยฒ).
* Have access to a personal smartphone capable of receiving study heat-risk alert notifications.
* Be able to read Urdu or English, or have a household member/caregiver available to read and explain study alerts when required.
* Be willing and able to provide written informed consent.
* Intend to remain within the study catchment area for the duration of the six-week study period to facilitate follow-up.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Patients requiring immediate emergency treatment or hospital admission at the time of recruitment.
* Individuals with severe cognitive impairment, dementia, psychotic illness, or another medical condition that limits their ability to understand study procedures or provide informed consent.
* Patients with terminal illness or those receiving palliative care.
* Individuals with severe visual, hearing, or communication impairments that prevent effective receipt of the study alert intervention and outcome assessment without a reliable caregiver.
* Pregnant women, because pregnancy has distinct physiological responses to heat exposure and would require separate clinical risk stratification beyond the scope of this study.
* Participants currently enrolled in another clinical trial or structured behavioral intervention related to heat-health, climate adaptation, or chronic disease self-management.
* Participants who are unable or unwilling to comply with study procedures or complete the required follow-up assessment.