The Future of Hypertension Management: Embracing Continuous Monitoring
The Future of Hypertension Management: Embracing Continuous Monitoring
Hypertension, often called the "silent killer," affects millions globally, leading to heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, and dementia. Despite its widespread impact, managing hypertension remains a persistent challenge in healthcare.
In a recent conversation between Dr. Darshan Shah and Dr. Jay Shah, Chief Medical Officer at Aktiia, they explored how continuous blood pressure monitoring is revolutionizing care, empowering individuals to take control of their health, and addressing critical gaps in traditional methods.
Intermittent vs. Continuous Monitoring
Blood pressure cuffs, a technology that has remained essentially unchanged for over 120 years, provide only sporadic snapshots of health. While useful, they fail to capture the dynamic nature of blood pressure throughout the day.
Only 17% of patients consistently use blood pressure cuffs, even when prescribed by their physician.
Among those who do, 76% measure incorrectly due to improper positioning, incorrect cuff tightness, or other errors.
Continuous monitoring, pioneered by companies like Aktiia, transforms this approach by offering seamless, 24/7 tracking. These devices, worn like a bracelet, provide 30+ readings daily, delivering actionable insights without the inconvenience of cuffs.
Proactive Care: A Paradigm Shift
Historically, hypertension management has been reactive, addressing complications after they arise. Continuous monitoring enables a proactive approach:
Patients can track real-time trends and understand how their lifestyle impacts their health.
Healthcare providers gain insights into time in target range—how long blood pressure stays within optimal levels.
This data also illuminates cumulative blood pressure load, a measure of the sustained strain on blood vessels over time.
Traditional Cuffs Still Play a Role
Photo from Freepik
While continuous monitoring represents a revolutionary leap forward, it comes with a higher price point compared to traditional cuffs. For many large populations, particularly in low-resource settings, cuff-based blood pressure devices remain essential for routine screening and management. However, as technology advances and adoption grows, we anticipate costs for continuous monitoring to decrease, making it more accessible globally.
The Rise of Continuous Monitoring: Beyond Aktiia
Aktiia is leading the charge in continuous blood pressure monitoring, but they are not alone. Other companies are also developing innovative solutions:
Apple is reportedly preparing to release a blood pressure monitoring feature for its Apple Watch, leveraging its vast consumer base to bring awareness and accessibility to health tracking. While their solution may not initially achieve medical-grade precision, it underscores the growing recognition of continuous monitoring's potential.
Omron has developed the HeartGuide, a smartwatch that incorporates blood pressure cuff technology.
Other startups are exploring optical sensor-based solutions like Aktiia's to provide continuous, user-friendly monitoring.
These advancements signal a new era in personal health tracking as continuous monitoring becomes increasingly integrated into everyday wearables.
The Challenges of Traditional Monitoring
Traditional cuffs remain the standard, but their limitations are evident:
One in three adults experiences white-coat syndrome, leading to artificially high readings in clinical settings.
Many patients avoid regular checks due to the discomfort or inconvenience of cuffs.
Devices like Aktiia's wearable monitor eliminate these barriers, delivering medically accurate results effortlessly. This is particularly valuable for patients who need frequent monitoring but struggle with compliance.
Empowering Patients with Continuous Monitoring
Continuous monitoring motivates individuals by showing them the impact of their choices:
How dietary changes, like reducing sodium, affect blood pressure trends.
The benefits of stress management techniques such as meditation or breathwork.
The effectiveness of medication adjustments tailored to specific patterns, such as nighttime blood pressure spikes.
This closed feedback loop encourages sustained engagement and healthier behaviors.
The Path Forward: Precision and Personalization
As Dr. Shah explained, the future of hypertension management goes beyond single readings:
Cumulative Blood Pressure Load: A new metric capturing the total strain on blood vessels over time.
Time in Target Range: The percentage of time blood pressure remains within a healthy range.
Just as continuous glucose monitoring has transformed diabetes care, these advancements have the potential to reduce the global burden of hypertension significantly.
The Takeaway
Continuous monitoring isn't just an innovation—it's a necessity. It empowers individuals to take control of their health, helps clinicians make precise decisions, and reduces the burden of chronic diseases. While traditional cuffs will remain a critical tool for large-scale use in the near term, the future of blood pressure management lies in continuous monitoring.
As adoption grows and costs decline, we can envision a world where this revolutionary technology becomes the standard, saving countless lives and redefining hypertension care.
Listen to the complete podcast here:
https://sites.libsyn.com/551312/dr-jay-shah-the-deadly-effects-of-hypertension-youre-not-aware-of