Efficacy of a mobile hypertension prevention delivery platform with human coaching

This pilot study evaluated the efficacy of a Hypertension Prevention Program (HPP) administered through a mobile application platform with human coaching (app) on reduction in blood pressure and weight in 50 adults with prehypertension or hypertension. Participants were recruited into a 24-week mobile application intervention to administer the HPP between January 2016 and July 2016. Dietary elements of the programme were based on the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. The programme included in-app human coaching with bi-weekly phone calls, meal logging, blood pressure tracking and educational material. Main outcome variables included change in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, hypertension category, and weight loss. Data were analysed between October 2016 and December 2016. The HPP yielded overall improvements in weight (-3.04±4.04 kg, P=<0.001), diastolic blood pressure (-5.06±11.89 mm Hg, P=0.004), and hypertension category (-0.48±0.74 mm Hg, P=<0.001). Sustained engagement of 80% resulted in significant reductions in systolic blood pressure (-7.75±12.56, P=<0.001) and weight (-3.73±4.01 kg, P<0.001) for programme completers, contributing to hypertension category change (-0.58±0.64 mm Hg, P<0.001). Mobile delivery of a lifestyle intervention for hypertension prevention showed short-term potential to reduce risk of hypertension, supporting the need for longer studies to investigate the use of mHealth lifestyle modification to reduce the risk of hypertension, a public health priority.