Transforming Health: The role of mobile applications in lifestyle changes for hypertension

Abstract Introduction Hypertension is a significant worldwide health issue, especially in developing nations like India. Despite the existence of treatment options, the management of the condition typically needs to improve the desired level of effectiveness due to inadequate compliance with medication and lifestyle choices. Methodology This study lasted 6 months and was a quasi-experimental investigation that included 272 patients with hypertension. The study was conducted at an urban health centre in Mysuru, India. The participants selected were divided into an experimental group of 136 individuals who used the "BP Fit" app and received standard care and a control group of 136 individuals who only received standard care. The application incorporated functionalities for monitoring blood pressure and managing their lifestyle. The measured outcomes encompassed blood pressure and changes in lifestyle factors. Results The experimental group showed noteworthy enhancements in blood pressure regulation. App users exhibited greater compliance with the DASH diet than non-app users (63.2 % vs 29.4 %, p < 0.001). Additionally, app users had lower rates of smoking (19.9 % vs 45.6 %, p < 0.001) and alcohol use (23.5 % vs 47.1 %, p < 0.001). No disparities were detected in the levels of physical exercise. Conclusion The "BP Fit" mobile application successfully enhanced different areas of hypertension management, such as blood pressure regulation and specific lifestyle factors. These findings validate the capability of mHealth technologies to improve hypertension care in India. Mobile health technologies have shown the potential to enhance the management of chronic diseases. However, further research is required to determine their usefulness in controlling hypertension in India.