Objective:

To evaluate the effectiveness of the ESH CARE App in improving hypertension control compared to usual care, with a focus on patient engagement and adherence.

Key Findings:

• 78% of participants in the AAS group achieved ambulatory BP targets (<130/80 mmHg) vs. 50% in the usual care group, highlighting a significant improvement in control.
• Office BP control was higher in the AAS group (82%) compared to usual care (60%), indicating the effectiveness of the app.
• Larger reductions in systolic and diastolic BP were observed in the AAS group compared to usual care, suggesting enhanced management.

Interpretation:

The ESH CARE App significantly improved blood pressure control and adherence, suggesting digital tools can enhance hypertension management and patient engagement, warranting further exploration of their long-term impact.

Limitations:

• The sample size was modest and follow-up was limited to 6 months, which may affect the robustness of the findings.
• Blinding was not feasible, and the study was single-centre, limiting generalizability, particularly to older or higher-risk patients.

Conclusion:

Digital strategies like the ESH CARE App have the potential to improve hypertension management by enhancing adherence and patient engagement, but further research is needed to address implementation challenges and to include diverse populations.