Texting improves blood pressure control

Text messages can improve blood pressure control and adherence with antihypertensives compared to usual care, according to a new study performed in an area of Cape Town where about a third of families live in shacks and almost two-thirds have a monthly income of less than 3,500 Rand (£150). The area’s clinic provides free health services and medication.

During the study, 457 people being treated for high blood pressure received weekly information-only text-messages. These text messages aimed to motivate patients to collect and take medicines, provided education about hypertension and its treatment, and offered reminders when medicines were ready for collection and for clinic appointments. Another 458 patients – the ‘interactive group’ – received these texts, but could also respond to some messages to, for example, cancel or change an appointment, or change the timing and language. Finally, 457 received usual care. The authors defined adherence as taking at least 80% of their antihypertensive based on proportion of days of covered by medication.