Interactive Digital Interventions Help Patients Control High Blood Pressure

The Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) recommends the use of interactive digital interventions to improve blood pressure control in patients with high blood pressure. Interactive digital interventions for blood pressure control provide self-management information and support through the use of a computer, smartphone, telephone, or other hand-held device. The digital component must be interactive while patients receive personally relevant, tailored information and feedback without direct input from a health professional.

A team of specialists in systematic review methods and in nutrition research, practice, and policy selected and evaluated a published systematic review of seven randomized controlled trials:

McLean G, Band R, Saunderson K, Hanlon P, Murray E, et al. Digital interventions to promote self-management in adults with hypertension: systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Hypertension 2016;34(4):600-12.

The recommendation is based on results from the following systematic review, additional information from the included studies, and expert input from review team members and the CPSTF.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women (CDC, 2017). Every year direct and overall costs resulting from cardiovascular disease are estimated at $273 billion and $444 billion. Strategies to reduce high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking can reduce the cardiovascular disease burden (CDC Million Hearts, 2011).

For More Information:

• The Community Guide
  • Cardiovascular Disease Prevention: Interactive Digital Interventions for Blood Pressure Self-Management
  • Interactive Digital Interventions for Blood Pressure Self-Management – use this one-pager as a quick reference
• Twitter @CPSTF – official account for the Community Preventive Services Task Force