A new study published in the Annals of Family Medicine demonstrates the potential of hypertension digital health interventions to improve outcomes for medically underserved patients. The research at a federally qualified health center in California examined the impact of a remote patient monitoring program (RPM) called Digital Innovation to Grow Quality Care Through an Interprofessional Care Team (DIG IT) on blood pressure control and cardiovascular risk.
Underserved Populations and Hypertension
Uncontrolled hypertension in underserved populations is a major cause of health disparities in the United States. That is because patients within this population share a 10% higher rate of hypertension than in most urban areas. Digital healthcare delivery technologies have increased over the past decade to reduce blood pressure in patients.
Much research has been conducted on remote patient monitoring and blood pressure control. Many studies have uncovered several benefits of remote patient monitoring for hypertension control. The following research is the latest to address RPM for hypertension among a medically underserved population.
Key Findings on Hypertension Digital Health Outcomes
The 3-month study compared 70 patients who used DIG IT and 70 patients who received usual care. The blood pressure and 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk score (ASCVD) results showed the following.
- Mean systolic blood pressure reduction was twice as large in the DIG IT group compared to usual care (30.8 mmHg vs 15.2 mmHg, p<0.001).
- 72.9% of DIG IT patients achieved a blood pressure target (<140/90 mmHg) vs 37.1% of usual care.
- Mean 10-year ASCVD risk score reduction was also doubled (6.4% vs 3.1%, p=0.003).
Blood pressure was significantly better controlled, and cardiovascular risk was reduced for the patients in the hypertension digital health program compared to the usual care. Additionally, blood pressure control and cardiovascular risk improvements were significant for underserved patients over the 3 months.
Insights into Building a Successful RPM Program
This study offers insights into remote patient monitoring programs, as implementing a successful RPM program can be challenging. The hypertension digital health intervention covered in the DIG IT study combined several key elements that may have contributed to the program’s success.
- The remote blood pressure monitoring devices used interfaced with electronic health records.
- Clinical pharmacists conducted telemedicine visits every 2-4 weeks.
- Collaborative practice agreements allowed pharmacists to adjust medications.
- An IT support team was available to assist patients with technology issues.
Though the study was small and short-term, the improvement in blood pressure and cardiovascular risk scores is noteworthy. By focusing on traditionally underserved populations, this study shows the potential of digital health to address health disparities – an increasingly important consideration in healthcare today.
Healthcare systems and rural clinics may want to consider incorporating lessons from programs like DIG IT as they evolve their hypertension digital health offerings. Combining connected devices, clinical services, and technical support may be key to driving meaningful improvements in hypertension management.
Click here to subscribe to Tenovi’s Weekly Research newsletter, which provides weekly insights into the evolving landscape of remote health and remote patient monitoring.
