A large real-world study has concluded that an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered digital tool developed by Chicago-based Megi Health can significantly reduce blood pressure over time while maintaining high long-term patient engagement—a combination that has remained a major challenge in hypertension care.

The peer-reviewed research, published in JMIR mHealth and uHealth, analyzed real-world data from more than 5,000 adults using Megi Health’s digital blood pressure management platform as part of their everyday lives. The results showed meaningful reductions in systolic blood pressure, with the greatest improvements seen in people who started with higher readings.

Crucially, the study found that outcomes improved the longer people stayed engaged with the platform. Researchers identified a clear link between sustained use and better blood pressure control, underlining the importance of continuous digital support rather than short-term interventions.

The findings also point to unusually strong engagement for a digital health product. Around half of users were still active after one year, while patient feedback showed high satisfaction, greater confidence in self-managing blood pressure, and reduced anxiety around monitoring.

Rather than relying on a tightly controlled clinical trial, the study examined how people actually use digital health tools in real life. Users interacted with Megi through WhatsApp, receiving reminders to measure their blood pressure and take medication, and entering readings directly into the chat. This approach enabled continuous tracking of blood pressure, engagement and outcomes over time.

The research was led by a multidisciplinary team from King’s College London, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Megi Health, the Magdalena Clinic for Cardiovascular Diseases in Zagreb, and the University of Zagreb. The cohort included both women and men aged 17 to 95, with more than 90% of participants regularly submitting blood pressure readings.

“High blood pressure can’t be managed through occasional GP visits alone. This study shows that ongoing, easy-to-use digital support can help people control their blood pressure in the real world—particularly those at highest risk,” said Dr. Petroula Laiou, chief scientific officer at Megi and senior study author. “It also demonstrates how combining digital tools with routine clinical care creates a more effective ‘phygital’ model for managing long-term conditions.”

The findings add to growing evidence that home-based digital monitoring can overcome many of the limitations of clinic-based blood pressure checks, which are often affected by white-coat or masked hypertension.

By combining regular home readings with behavioral support, digital tools such as those offered by Megi Health could play an increasingly important role in long-term cardiovascular care.

“What’s striking is not just the blood pressure reductions, but how long people stayed engaged,” Megi Health CEO Dr. Nina Šesto stated. “That level of sustained use is exactly what hypertension care has been missing. As health systems move towards prevention, home monitoring and long-term condition management, this approach aligns closely with the direction set out in the NHS 10-Year Health Plan.”

Megi is a certified and regulated medical device platform designed to shift cardiovascular care from reactive treatment to early prediction and prevention. Delivered through familiar channels such as WhatsApp or SMS, the platform uses conversational AI alongside clinical and behavioral data—including blood pressure, symptoms and lifestyle signals—to guide users through daily monitoring, medication adherence and evidence-based lifestyle actions.

By prioritizing engagement and education, Megi aims to support sustained behavior change, a critical factor in long-term cardiovascular risk control.