Famous medical journalist Anuja Vaidya, the Senior Health Editor at TechTarget, reports on the proof in the new Peterson Health Technology Institute (PHTI) study that digital tools for managing hypertension effectively reduce blood pressure. These reductions are clinically meaningful compared to usual care, says the PHTI.
The study coverage
PHTI released this report to assess digital hypertension tools’ impact on clinical outcomes and access to timely care. Nearly half of U.S. adults (47.7%) had high blood pressure between 2021 and 2023, US CDC data shows. However, only 20.7% of them had their BP under control.
PHTI examined digital hypertension tools from 11 companies: AMC Health, Cadence Design Systems, DarioHealth, Hello Heart, Health Recovery Solutions, Lark Technologies, Ochsner Digital Medicine, Omada Health, Story Health, Teladoc Health, and VitalSight by Omron.
Grouping of the digital health tools
1. Digital blood pressure monitoring tools enable home monitoring and transmit data to healthcare providers.
2. Medication management tools involve virtual care teams coordinating medication adjustments with the patient’s primary care team.
3. Behavior change tools provide educational content, alerts, reminders, and virtual coaching to support self-management.
The study’s methodology and findings
The researchers assessed clinical effectiveness through a systematic literature review. They screened about 2,500 pieces of evidence and included 73 in the analysis. They also studied the economic impact of these solutions over three years.
Medication management solutions improved the systolic blood pressure more significantly and brought more patients into digital blood pressure control than usual care. These solutions also prompted faster improvement in hypertension outcomes.
By contrast, BP monitoring and behavior change tools did not produce clinically meaningful improvements in the systolic blood pressure.
PHTI concluded that digital solutions with a medication management approach warrant broader use.
“Too many people are living with uncontrolled hypertension, but effective digital solutions exist,” said Dr. Caroline Pearson, PHTI’s executive director, in a press release. “These solutions can help patients improve cardiovascular health, save lives, and lower spending over time.”
This report is the PHTI’s latest evaluation. The Peterson Center on Healthcare launched other studies to assess digital health solutions as virtual care shifts from volume to value.
