Effect of a Digitally-Enabled, Preventive Health Program on Blood Pressure in an Adult, Dutch General Population Cohort: An Observational Pilot Study

José Castela Forte, Pytrik Folkertsma, Rahul Gannamani, Sridhar Kumaraswamy, Sipko van Dam and Jan Hoogsteen
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José Castela Forte: Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9711 LM Groningen, The Netherlands
Pytrik Folkertsma: Ancora Health B.V., 9711 LM Groningen, The Netherlands
Rahul Gannamani: Ancora Health B.V., 9711 LM Groningen, The Netherlands
Sridhar Kumaraswamy: Ancora Health B.V., 9711 LM Groningen, The Netherlands
Sipko van Dam: Ancora Health B.V., 9711 LM Groningen, The Netherlands
Jan Hoogsteen: Ancora Health B.V., 9711 LM Groningen, The Netherlands

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 7, 1-9

Abstract: Worldwide, it is estimated that at least one in four adults suffers from hypertension, and this number is expected to increase as populations grow and age. Blood pressure (BP) possesses substantial heritability, but is also heavily modulated by lifestyle factors. As such, digital, lifestyle-based interventions are a promising alternative to standard care for hypertension prevention and management. In this study, we assessed the prevalence of elevated and high BP in a Dutch general population cohort undergoing a health screening, and observed the effects of a subsequent self-initiated, digitally-enabled lifestyle program on BP regulation. Baseline data were available for 348 participants, of which 56 had partaken in a BP-focused lifestyle program and got remeasured 10 months after the intervention. Participants with elevated SBP and DBP at baseline showed a mean decrease of 7.2 mmHg and 5.4 mmHg, respectively. Additionally, 70% and 72.5% of participants showed an improvement in systolic and diastolic BP at remeasurement. These improvements in BP are superior to those seen in other recent studies. The long-term sustainability and the efficacy of this and similar digital lifestyle interventions will need to be established in additional, larger studies.

Keywords: hypertension; blood pressure; lifestyle; digital health; ehealth; prevention; behavioral change (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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