Can telehealth follow-up improve hypertension control? - study findings

Content Editor: Dr. Prayag Khandelwal

January 15, 2024 at 4:02:19 PM

Hypertension, Non-Communicable Diseases, Research Findings

According to 2019 Indian estimates, only 17.3% of treated men and 18.5% of women successfully manage their BP.
Participants receiving phone calls from doctors and clinics saw over a two-fold increase in follow-up during a recent study in Mumbai.
A year-long study conducted by PATH and Resolve to Save Lives in Mumbai showed that adherence to hypertension treatment medication required more than just a prescription.
The results of the study were as follows:

82% of the patients visited the clinic for follow-up within one month of receiving a phone call, which was meant to reinforce treatment adherence.
BP control rates among those who received the call increased from 23.6% to 48.8%.

The study concluded that a phone call from the clinic increased the rates of follow-ups in hypertensive patients.