Interactive web system plus smartphone can help control BP: Study

Scientists have developed an interactive web system that, along with your smartphone, can efficiently control your blood pressure.

The participants in the study lowered their blood pressure and were able to understand better how their lifestyle affects their blood pressure.

They also actively participated in follow-up discussions, said the researchers from University of Gothenburg.

"The result showed statistical and clinical significance in lowering blood pressure between the first and last weeks of the study," said Ulrika Bengtsson, PhD student at the Sahlgrenska Academy at Gothenburg University.

Systolic blood pressure (top reading) was lowered by 7 mmHg on average and diastolic blood pressure (bottom reading) by 4.9 mmHg. The reduction generally occurred during the first weeks and then stabilised.

"The blood pressure reduction trend was fairly similar, regardless of the initial blood pressure level, blood pressure dropped," Bengtsson added.

In her thesis, Bengtsson developed and evaluated an interactive system for persons living with high blood pressure that, with the help of their own mobile phone, can be used to self-manage the high blood pressure on a daily basis.

The patient reports their blood pressure, pulse, medication intake, lifestyle, symptoms and state of well being in their mobile.

The web system sends questions, individual lifestyle related and encouraging messages and reminders to the patient's mobile.

Graphic feedback is available on the Internet allowing the patients and their health care professionals to check blood pressure values in relation to other estimates, either on a specific day or over time.

The results show that the use of the interactive system gave patients a better understanding of the connection between their lifestyle and their blood pressure.

"The patients actively contributed to the follow-up discussions that were conducted at the end of the study. The discussions primarily addressed how blood pressure can be managed in daily life," Bengtsson noted.

"However, the long-term effects on a larger number of participants should be studied," she cautioned.

The study has appeared in the Journal of Clinical Hypertension.