Home | About | Events | Contact | Advisory Board | Writer’s Guidelines | Reprints | Organizations | Advertising
November/December 2024
November/December 2024 Issue Technology: Turning to AI for Health Coaching Research shows artificial intelligence coaching helps reduce blood pressure. What else can it do? Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the medical field in many exciting ways. It can help improve not only the speed and efficiency of various aspects of care but also their accuracy. AI even has the capability of offering patients guidance and recommendations when they’re at home in the form of lifestyle coaching. A new clinical study published in JMIR Cardio has shown that AI coaching can effectively reduce blood pressure (BP) in adults with hypertension. Since lifestyle is a significant factor in the management of hypertension, this could be a game changer when it comes to improving outcomes. The research, led by Jared Leitner, MS, PhD, of the University of California, San Diego, involved examining an AI-based program that leveraged data from wearable activity trackers and BP monitors. The program also used a mobile app questionnaire to tailor lifestyle recommendations that were then delivered to participants through text messages or via alerts in the app. The researchers employed a single-arm nonrandomized trial to evaluate the effects of the coaching program, which was delivered to 141 participants. Over 24 weeks, participants with stage 2 hypertension showed significant reductions in both systolic and diastolic BP. At 12 weeks, systolic BP decreased by an average of 9.6 mm Hg and diastolic BP by 5.7 mm Hg. These reductions were even more pronounced at 24 weeks, with systolic BP dropping by 14.2 mm Hg and diastolic BP by 8.1 mm Hg. This was also significant for the older adults who were part of this study. “In our subgroup analysis of seniors—those 65-plus—participating in our hypertension management program, we observed significant improvements,” Leitner says. “After 12 weeks, this group experienced an average blood pressure reduction of 12/6 mm Hg, which further improved to 14/8 mm Hg after 24 weeks.” “Patients only need to measure their blood pressure and check in with our app to receive personalized guidance, making the process straightforward and accessible,” he says. Building on the Success of These Findings This AI-guided intervention offers a promising alternative to traditional coaching methods, he says. While physicians can offer recommendations and advice about reducing BP at home, the AI-guided coaching appeared to help patients actually follow through on such recommendations. “One key advantage is its ability to learn the unique contexts and preferences of patients, allowing for highly personalized strategies,” Leitner says. “The AI coach can analyze lifestyle data to identify factors contributing to chronic conditions like hypertension or diabetes. Unlike traditional methods, AI coaching can interpret this level of information, providing continuous and tailored support at scale.” He offers this example: If the AI coach determines that a patient’s higher salt consumption is affecting their BP, it can identify the highest sodium meals from the past two weeks and suggest healthier alternatives, tailored to their preferences, cultural backgrounds, and dietary requirements. “This level of specificity helps patients make informed decisions about their diets and feel cared for, as their unique contexts are being considered,” Leitner adds. The AI coach can also determine whether a patient’s frequent awakenings during their sleep are contributing to higher BP readings. “It would then focus the patient on strategies that could improve sleep hygiene,” Leitner says. “The AI coach would engage the patient and ask which specific actions they would prefer to take to improve their sleep hygiene. These targeted actions could include maintaining a consistent bedtime, avoiding electronic screens 30 minutes before sleep, or using white noise.” The research, he adds, highlights the importance of a personalized approach to lifestyle coaching. “In our work, we have found that the top lifestyle factors impacting patients’ blood pressure can greatly vary from patient to patient,” he says. “It can also change for an individual patient over time. This highlights the need for a continuous coaching model that is personalized and precise.” The study also highlighted high participant engagement and minimal need for manual clinician outreach. This indicates that the AI-driven approach not only enhances BP control but also substantially reduces the workload for health care providers. While traditional coaching takes time in the form of patient follow-up, AI coaching removes that burden because it’s available to a patient 24/7. Looking to the Future “AI coaching has the potential to be implemented more broadly in medicine, particularly for conditions where lifestyle changes are crucial,” Leitner explains. “Beyond hypertension, it can help manage diabetes, cardiometabolic conditions, COPD, CKD [chronic kidney disease], and other diseases.” Leitner and his team are extending the technology to type 2 diabetes patients now, with early promising results in blood glucose control and patient engagement. “Additionally, we have initiated a pilot program focused on cardiology patients,” he says, adding that he’d encourage those involved in the care of older adults to consider how AI coaching could make a difference in patients’ lives. “Geriatricians and care providers might be interested in knowing that our findings indicate high engagement and effectiveness even among older adults,” he says. “This technology is not only user-friendly but also highly adaptable to individual needs, making it a valuable tool in patient care. As we continue to expand our research and applications, this AI-driven approach could revolutionize chronic disease management and support for various patient populations.” — Lindsey Getz is an award-winning freelance writer in Royersford, Pennsylvania. |
