Artificial intelligence voice agents significantly improved the accuracy of blood pressure monitoring and patient outcomes for older adults with hypertension, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association's Hypertension Scientific Sessions 2025. The study demonstrated how integrating AI into clinical workflows can enhance home blood pressure monitoring completion rates, leading to better quality outcomes for patients. The research involved 2,000 adults, predominantly aged 65 and older, evaluating the effectiveness of voice-enabled AI agents in engaging patients to self-report accurate blood pressure readings instead of traditional phone calls with healthcare professionals.
The AI system, using commercially available technology in multiple languages including English and Spanish, also identified patients requiring follow-up medical care based on their readings. When blood pressure readings fell outside threshold ranges or patients reported symptoms such as dizziness, blurred vision, or chest pain, calls were immediately escalated to licensed nurses or medical assistants. This process reduced manual workload for clinicians and resulted in an 88.7% lower cost-per-reading compared to human nurses performing similar tasks. During the study period, 85% of patients were successfully reached by the AI voice agent, with 67% completing calls and 60% taking compliant blood pressure readings during the interaction.
Among these patients, 68% met controlling blood pressure Stars compliance thresholds. The initiative closed 1,939 CBP gaps, elevating performance from 1-Star to 4-Star rating—a 17% improvement in the Medicare Advantage and Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set measure. Patient satisfaction exceeded expectations, with average ratings above 9 out of 10 on post-call surveys. Lead study author Tina-Ann Kerr Thompson noted surprise at the high satisfaction scores, emphasizing the importance of patient engagement for healthcare outcomes. The study aligns with the American Heart Association's Target:BP initiative, which helps healthcare organizations improve blood pressure control rates through evidence-based programs, and supports recommendations in the Association's new 2025 guideline on high blood pressure advocating home monitoring for all adults with hypertension.
While the findings show promise for transforming blood pressure management, the study has limitations as an observational, retrospective analysis without a control group. The research was conducted at Emory Healthcare in Atlanta over 10 weeks, using electronic health records to identify patients missing blood pressure data or with readings outside normal ranges. The full implications will become clearer once peer-reviewed publication occurs, but the preliminary results suggest AI voice agents could address critical barriers in hypertension management, particularly for patients with limited access to care. The technology's ability to operate in multiple languages and its cost-effectiveness compared to traditional methods indicate potential for broader implementation in diverse healthcare settings.
