Artificial intelligence voice agents helped older adults with high blood pressure accurately report blood pressure readings and improved blood pressure management, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association's Hypertension Scientific Sessions 2025. The study involved 2,000 adults, primarily ages 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.
AI voice agents are conversational systems powered by large language models that understand and produce natural speech in real time during human interactions. The technology used commercially available AI in multiple languages, including English and Spanish, with calls automatically escalated to licensed nurses or medical assistants when readings fell outside threshold ranges or when patients reported symptoms such as dizziness, blurred vision, or chest pain. This integration into clinical workflows reduced manual workload by clinicians and resulted in an 88.7% lower cost-per-reading compared to human nurses performing similar tasks.
The study demonstrated significant improvements in care management outcomes. During the research period, 85% of patients were successfully reached by the voice-based AI 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, resulting in 1,939 CBP gaps closed and elevating performance from 1-Star to 4-Star rating—a 17% improvement. The Medicare Advantage and Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set CBP measure increased from a previously reported 1-star rating to 4-star rating.
Patient satisfaction exceeded expectations, with completed calls receiving average satisfaction ratings exceeding 9 out of 10 on a scale where 10 represented 100% satisfaction. Lead study author Tina-Ann Kerr Thompson, M.D., expressed surprise at the high patient satisfaction scores, noting the critical importance of patient engagement and satisfaction for healthcare outcomes. The findings suggest that AI technologies could transform blood pressure management by reaching patients wherever they are and addressing critical barriers such as limited access to care and gaps in patient support.
The research aligns with the American Heart Association's Target:BP initiative, which helps healthcare organizations improve blood pressure control rates through evidence-based programs. Home blood pressure monitoring is recommended for all adults with any level of high blood pressure, as noted in the Association's new 2025 guideline on high blood pressure available at https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure. The study's approach of integrating AI voice agents into existing clinical workflows represents a scalable solution for improving remote patient monitoring while reducing healthcare costs and improving quality outcomes.
