Managing high blood pressure can be challenging, but new research suggests that something as simple as having a blood pressure cuff at home—and receiving reminders to use it—may make a big difference.
A study from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania found that patients with uncontrolled hypertension who received home blood pressure cuffs and text message reminders were much more likely to get their condition under control compared to those who only relied on office visits.
The study, published in JAMA Network Open, included 425 patients whose blood pressure remained high despite regular care.
Participants were divided into three groups.
Two groups received home cuffs and text reminders, but with slightly different approaches: one group was automatically mailed the cuff and given the chance to “opt out” of sending readings to their care team, while the other had to “opt in” by agreeing first before receiving the cuff.
A third group, serving as the control, did not receive home cuffs and only had their blood pressure checked at clinic visits.
Over six months, about 35% of patients who had home monitors and reminders were able to bring their blood pressure under control, compared with just 21% in the control group.
While there was little difference between the opt-in and opt-out groups in terms of how often patients used the devices, the overall improvement in outcomes for those with cuffs was clear.
Lead author Dr. Shivan Mehta, associate chief innovation officer at Penn Medicine, said the results highlight the power of small, supportive nudges.
“We were able to keep the importance of monitoring on patients’ minds in a user-friendly way,” Mehta explained. “That extra layer of support helped people stay on top of their care, whether by sticking with medications or making adjustments when needed.”
The study also shed light on how remote monitoring programs might help reduce health disparities. At Penn Family Care Clinic, where the research was conducted, 86% of participants were Black, reflecting the local community.
In the U.S., Black adults are more likely to have high blood pressure, develop it earlier, and face more severe complications compared to white adults. Providing tools like home cuffs and easy-to-use text reminders may help close these gaps.
Although the study did not find a major difference between opt-in and opt-out enrollment methods, Mehta noted that future programs could remove even more barriers by automatically enrolling patients without requiring a phone call.
Penn Medicine has already begun integrating lessons from this study into its broader Heart Health initiative, which uses text messaging to encourage better management of high blood pressure and cholesterol.
For patients struggling to control hypertension, the message is simple: home monitoring combined with regular reminders may help turn the tide toward better health.
Source: University of Pennsylvania.
