AN EFFECTIVE MHEALTH SERVICE TO REDUCE BLOOD PRESSURE WITHOUT ADDING MEDICATIONS THROUGH PERSONALIZED AUTOMATED LIFESTYLE INTERVENTIONS
Prevention
Background
Current guidelines require prescription of lifestyle modifications for all patients with prehypertension and hypertension. Lifestyle counselling is often provided with general rules but to be effective it requires a strong commitment of health professionals.
Aim
We evaluated the effect on blood pressure (BP) of a digital delivery personalized lifestyle-change program (LC) coupled with a BP -recording, -interpretation and -trend evaluation service (BT) or the BT alone as a digital plain diary, via App and website.
Methods
We studied 181 consecutive subjects (134M; 52±12years old) that voluntarily and unsolicited joined LC and 362 “double-control” matching subjects that joined only the BT. BT collects BP values, and after consistency-checks, feeds a proprietary CE-certified medical device algorithm to provide both actual BP interpretation and BP trend assessment. After collecting detailed clinical and lifestyle info, LC provides a 3-month personalized lifestyle modification program for BP reduction. LC promotes regular BP measurements via digital engagement while BT alone doesn’t. Progress on program implementation, continuity of BP measurement and BP changes were monitored: subsequent counselling was provided accordingly. BP changes were evaluated comparing BP values recorded at the beginning and at the end of the LC program.
Results
During the study period a total 15389 BP values were collected, subjects with discontinuous BP measurements during the LC program were excluded from evaluation. We hence analyzed the data of 129 LC subjects (mean persistence time 2.3 months) and 258 “double-control” matching BT subjects. Whilst non-significant differences were observed in BT subjects, we observed a significant reduction of BP in LC subjects at the end of the program for both systolic and diastolic BP: -4.7±1.2mmHg and -3.1±0.8mmHg, p<0.0001 (respectively).
Conclusions
This pilot study demonstrates that personalized and actionable lifestyle change programs prepared, delivered and monitored only through electronic means and coupled with a medical CE certified App for BP interpretation and trend analysis provides a strong and effective adjunctive tool for BP reduction.
Footnotes
Poster Contributions
Poster Area, South Hall A1
Sunday, April 03, 2016, 9:45 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
Session Title: New Treatments for Systemic Hypertension
Abstract Category: 34. Prevention: Hypertension
Presentation Number: 1190-373
