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Therapies that are sensitive to multiple biomarkers could allow medicines to reach only the areas of the body where they are needed. The diagram above shows three theoretical biomarkers that are present in specific, sometimes overlapping areas of the body. A therapy designed to find the unique area of overlap between the three will act on only that area.DeForest et al./Nature Chemical Biology

Targeted drug delivery is a powerful and promising area of medicine. Therapies that pinpoint the exact areas of the body where they’re needed — and nowhere they’re not — can reduce the medicine dosage and avoid potentially harmful “off target” effects elsewhere in the body. A targeted immunotherapy, for example, might seek out cancerous tissues and activate immune cells to fight the disease only in those tissues.

The tricky part is making a therapy truly “smart,” where the medicine can move freely through the body and decide which areas to target.

Researchers at the University of Washington took a significant step toward that goal by designing proteins with autonomous decision-making capabilities. In a proof-of-principles study published Oct. 9 in Nature Chemical Biology, researchers demonstrated that by adding smart tail structures to therapeutic proteins, they could control the proteins’ localization based on the presence of specific environmental cues. These protein tails fold themselves into preprogrammed shapes that define how they react to different combinations of cues. In addition, the experiment showed that the smart protein tails could be attached to a carrier material for delivery to living cells.

Advances in synthetic biology also allowed the researchers to manufacture these proteins cheaply and in a matter of days instead of months.

“We’ve been thinking about these concepts for some time but have struggled with ways to increase and automate production,” said senior author Cole DeForest, a UW professor of chemical engineering and bioengineering. “We’ve now finally figured out how to produce these systems faster, at scale and with dramatically enhanced logical complexity. We are excited about how these will lead to more sophisticated and scalable disease-honing therapies.”

The concept of programmable biomaterials isn’t new. Scientists have developed numerous strategies to make systems responsive to individual cues — such as pH levels or the presence of specific enzymes — that are associated with a particular disease or area of the body. But it’s rare to find one cue, or “biomarker,” that’s unique to one spot, so a material that hones in on just one biomarker might act on a few unintended places in addition to the target.

One solution to this problem is to seek out a combination of biomarkers. There might be many areas of the body with particular enzyme or pH levels, but there are likely fewer areas with both of those factors. In theory, the more biomarkers a material can identify, the more finely targeted drug delivery can be.

In 2018, DeForest’s lab created a new class of materials that responded to multiple biomarkers using Boolean logic, a concept traditionally used in computer programming.

The diagrams above show linker structures that can perform different logical operations. In box 1, the protein therapeutic (star) is released from a material (pink wedge) in the presence of either biomarker X or Y; in box 2, the protein will release only if both biomarkers X and Y are present.DeForest et al./Nature Chemical Biology

“We realized that we could program how therapeutics were released based simply on how they were connected to a carrier material,” DeForest said. “For example, if we linked a therapeutic cargo to a material via two degradable groups connected in series — that is, each after the other — it would be released if either group was degraded, acting as an OR gate. When the degradable groups were instead connected in parallel — that is, each on a different half of a cycle — both groups had to be degraded for cargo release, functioning as an AND gate. Excitingly, by combining these basic gates we could readily create advanced logical circuits.”

It was a big step forward, but it wasn’t scalable — the team built these large and complex logic-responsive materials manually through traditional organic chemistry.

But over the next several years, the related field of synthetic biology advanced by leaps and bounds.

“The field has developed exciting new protein-based tools that can allow researchers to form permanent bonds between proteins,” said co-first author Murial Ross, a UW doctoral student of bioengineering. “It opened doors for new protein structures that were previously unachievable, which made more complex logical operations possible.”

Additionally, it became practical to use living cells as factories to produce these complex proteins, allowing scientists to design custom DNA blueprints for new proteins, insert the DNA into bacteria or other host cells, and then collect the proteins with the desired structure directly from the cells.

With these new tools, DeForest and his team streamlined and improved many steps of the process at once. They designed and produced proteins with tails that spontaneously fold into more bespoke shapes, creating complex “circuits” that can respond to up to five different biomarkers. These new proteins can attach to various carriers — hydrogels, tiny beads or living cells — for delivery to a cell, or theoretically a disease site. The team even loaded up one carrier with three different proteins, each programmed to deliver their unique cargo based on different sets of environmental cues.

The research team designed protein tails that fold into custom shapes to create sophisticated logical circuits. Box 1 shows a protein designed to be responsive to five different biomarkers; box 2 shows the logical conditions that must be met to fully break apart the tail and release the protein.DeForest et al./Nature Chemical Biology

“We were so excited about the results,” DeForest said. “Using the old process, it would take months to synthesize just a few milligrams of each of these materials. Now it takes us a couple of weeks to go from construct design to product. It’s been a complete game changer for us.”

“The sky’s the limit. You can create delayed and independent delivery of many different components in one treatment,” Ross said. “And I think we could create much, much larger logical circuits that a protein can be responsive to. We’re at the point now that the technology is outpacing what we’ve seriously considered in terms of applications, which is a great place to be.”

The researchers will now continue searching for more biomarkers that proteins could target. They also hope to start collaborating with other labs at the UW and beyond to build and deploy real-world therapies.

The team outlined other uses for the technology as well. The same tools could manufacture therapies within a single cell and direct them to specific regions, a sort of microcosm of how the process works in the body. DeForest also envisions diagnostic tools like blood tests that could, say, turn a certain color when a complex set of cues within the blood sample are present.

DeForest thinks the first practical applications are likely to be cancer treatments, but with more research, the possibilities feel endless.

“The dream is to be able to pick any arbitrary location inside of the body — down to individual cells — and program a material to go and act there,” he said. “That’s a tall order, but with these technologies we’re getting closer. With the right combination of biomarkers, these materials will just get more and more precise.”

Co-authors include Annabella Li, a former UW undergraduate student of chemical engineering; Shivani Kottantharayil, a UW undergraduate student of bioengineering; and Jack Hoye, a UW doctoral student of chemical engineering.

This research was funded by the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health.

For more information, contact DeForest at profcole@uw.edu. 

Evidence shows that school meals are often more nutritious than meals that students eat elsewhere. Credit: SDI Productions/iStock

In the 10 years since the federal government established the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), which enabled universal free meal programs for schools in low-income communities, studies have suggested the policy has wide-ranging benefits. Students in participating schools choose lunches with higher nutritional quality, are suspended less frequently and may perform better academically.

Now, as cuts to food assistance programs threaten to slash access to universal school meals, a new study led by the University of Washington finds another potential benefit to the programs: Students in participating schools were less likely to have high blood pressure, suggesting that universal free meals might be a powerful tool for improving public health. 

“High blood pressure is an important public health problem that isn’t studied as much on a population level as obesity,” said Anna Localio, a UW postdoctoral researcher of health systems and population health and lead author of the study. “We have evidence that CEP increases participation in school meals, and we also have evidence that school meals are more nutritious than meals that kids obtain elsewhere. This is a public health policy that is delivering nutritious meals to children who may not have previously had access.”

For the study, published Sept. 25 in JAMA Network Open, researchers linked two datasets that rarely interact. They obtained medical records of patients ages 4-18 from community health organizations, and used patients’ addresses to identify the school they attended. The data encompassed 155,778 young people attending 1,052 schools, mostly in California and Oregon.

Researchers estimated the percentage of students with high blood pressure before and after schools opted into universal free meals, and compared those results against eligible schools that had not yet participated in the program. They also tracked students’ average systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings. All data were aggregated at the school level. 

They found that school participation in the CEP was associated with a 2.71% decrease in the proportion of students with high blood pressure, corresponding to a 10.8% net drop over five years. School participation in CEP was also associated with a decrease in students’ average diastolic blood pressure. 

Participation in universal free meals was associated with an 11% net decrease in the proportion of patients with high blood pressure over a five-year period. The above chart shows the annual difference in the percentage of students with high blood pressure in participating schools and non-participating schools.

“In previous work on the health impacts of universal free school meals, our team found that adoption of free meals is associated with decreases in average body mass index scores and childhood obesity prevalence, which are closely linked to risk of high blood pressure,” said Jessica Jones-Smith, a professor of health, society and behavior at the University of California Irvine’s Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health and senior author of the study. Jones-Smith conducted much of this research while on faculty at the UW School of Public Health. “So in addition to directly affecting blood pressure through provision of healthier meals, a second pathway by which providing universal free meals might impact blood pressure is through their impact on lowering risk for high BMI.” 

Improved nutrition of school meals may have helped drive the decrease, researchers said. The 2010 law that established the CEP also created stronger nutritional requirements for school meals. As a result, those meals now more closely resemble the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, which studies have shown to be an effective tool for managing hypertension. 

Despite the evidence supporting the DASH diet’s effectiveness, public health officials previously lacked an effective mechanism to encourage people with high blood pressure to follow its recommendations. “We know there are a lot of barriers to people eating this diet,” Localio said, but the combination of universal free meals and increased nutritional standards likely helped students overcome those barriers.

The study also contradicts the common misperception that universal free meals mostly benefit wealthier students, because students from low-income families would already receive free meals. The study sample consists primarily of low-income patients, with 85% of included students enrolled in public health insurance such as Medicaid.

“There is a perception that providing universally free school meals will only improve outcomes for students of relatively higher-income families, but our findings suggest that there are benefits for lower-income children as well,” Jones-Smith said. “Potential mechanisms for this include decreasing the income-related stigma around eating school lunch by providing it free to all students and eliminating the time and paperwork burden of individually applying, thus decreasing barriers to participation in school meals.”

These findings come at an uncertain time for universal free meals. A school is eligible to participate in the CEP if at least 25% of its students are identified as eligible for free meals via participation in a means-tested safety net program. In this way, recent cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the nation’s largest food assistance program, may affect schools’ access to the program.

“We’re in a contentious time for public health, but it seems like there’s bipartisan support for healthy school meals,” Localio said. “There’s legislation being considered in a number of states to expand universal free meals, and these findings could inform that decision-making. Cutting funding to school meals would not promote children’s health.” 

Co-authors on the study include Paul Hebert, research professor emeritus of health systems and population health at the UW; Melissa Knox, teaching professor of economics at the UW; Wyatt Benksen and Aileen Ochoa of OCHIN; and Jennifer Sonney, associate professor of nursing at the UW. This study was funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development. 

For more information or to contact the researchers, email Alden Woods at acwoods@uw.edu.

Over its 80-year history, the University of Washington School of Dentistry has trained nearly 7,000 dental professionals, many of whom stay in Washington. But the School’s service doesn’t start at graduation. UW dental students, faculty members and community volunteers provide free care to communities across Washington, serving hundreds of patients each academic quarter.  

The UW’s community collaborations span the state. In recent months, the School of Dentistry has offered care in Toppenish, Moses Lake and Longview, alongside monthly service days at Union Gospel Mission in Seattle and quarterly mobile clinics. Patients receive oral health exams, fillings, tooth extractions and cleanings. 

A patient receives care at a free clinic led by the UW School of Dentistry in Aberdeen, Washington.

“The work we do in communities across the state is a great example of why the UW is often called the University for Washington,” said André Ritter, dean of the UW School of Dentistry. “These programs and partnerships advance the mission of the UW and the School in significant ways through education and clinical care.” 

The clinics are organized through the School’s Office of Educational Partnerships, which is solely focused on improving the oral health of people in the Pacific Northwest. OEP coordinates outreach programs that address the distinct needs of each community. Dental students have the opportunity to serve in outreach clinics or act as mentors for middle- and high-school students, encouraging them to pursue dental education and eventually serve their own communities.  

Dental students typically begin seeing patients near the start of their third year. At the UW, however, students have the opportunity to work in clinical settings in underserved communities the summer after their first year through the Rural and Underserved Opportunities Program (RUOP).  

The School also offers a specific educational track that trains dentists to work in rural and underserved communities. Operated in conjunction with Eastern Washington University and the UW School of Medicine, the program — Regional Initiatives in Dental Education (RIDE) — has seen over 80% of its graduates return to rural and underserved communities across the Pacific Northwest. 

“Oral health is an essential part of overall well-being, and everyone deserves access to high-quality dental care,” said Amy Kim, a UW clinical associate professor of pediatric dentistry and director of the Office of Educational Partnerships. “We recognize that it is our duty and privilege to serve those who need it most.” 

 The UW School of Dentistry will continue its service and outreach programs throughout the fall and winter quarters. For more information or to learn about upcoming service days, contact Alden Woods at acwoods@uw.edu.

A worker conducts anti-mosquito fogging in Bali, Indonesia. Credit: Pepszi/Getty Images

Warmer weather across the globe is reshaping the landscape of human health. Case in point: Dengue fever incidence could rise as much as 76% by 2050 due to climate warming across a large swath of Asia and the Americas, according to a new study led by Marissa Childs, a researcher at the University of Washington. 

Dengue fever, a mosquito-borne disease once confined largely to the tropics, often brings flu-like symptoms. Without proper medical care, it can escalate to severe bleeding, organ failure, and even death.  

The study, published Sept. 9 in PNAS, is the most comprehensive estimate yet of how temperature shifts affect dengue’s spread. It provides the first direct evidence that a warming climate has already increased the disease’s toll.  

“The effects of temperature were much larger than I expected,” said Childs, a UW assistant professor of environmental and occupational health sciences who conducted much of the research as a doctoral student at Stanford University. “Even small shifts in temperature can have a big impact for dengue transmission, and we’re already seeing the fingerprint of climate warming.” 

The study analyzed over 1.4 million observations of local dengue incidence across 21 countries in Central and South America and Southeast and South Asia, capturing both epidemic spikes and background levels of infection.  

Dengue thrives in a “Goldilocks zone” of temperatures — incidence peaks at about 27.8 degrees Celsius, or 82 degrees Fahrenheit, rising sharply as cooler regions warm but dropping slightly when already-hot areas exceed the optimal range. As a result, some of the largest increases are projected for cooler, high-population regions in countries such as Mexico, Peru and Brazil. Many other endemic regions will continue to experience larger, warming-fueled dengue burdens. By contrast, a few of the hottest lowland areas may see slight declines.  

Still, the net global effect is a steep rise in disease. 

The findings suggest that higher temperatures from climate change were responsible for an average 18% increase of dengue incidence across 21 countries in Asia and the Americas from 1995 to 2014 — translating to more than 4.6 million extra infections annually, based on current incidence estimates. Cases could climb another 49% to 76% by 2050 depending on greenhouse gas emissions levels, according to the study. At the higher end of the projections, incidence of dengue would more than double in many cooler locations, including areas in the study countries that are already home to over 260 million people.  

“Many studies have linked temperature and dengue transmission,” said senior author Erin Mordecai, a professor of biology in the Stanford School of Humanities and Sciences. “What’s unique about this work is that we are able to separate warming from all the other factors that influence dengue — mobility, land use change, population dynamics — to estimate its effect on the real-world dengue burden. This is not just hypothetical future change but a large amount of human suffering that has already happened because of warming-driven dengue transmission.” 

The researchers cautioned that their estimates are likely conservative. They do not account for regions where dengue transmission is sporadic or poorly reported, nor do they include large endemic areas such as India or Africa where detailed data is lacking or not publicly available. The researchers also highlighted recent locally acquired cases in California, Texas, Hawaii, Florida, and in Europe — a signal of the expanding range of dengue. Urbanization, human migration and the evolution of the virus could amplify risks, while medical advances may help blunt them, making projections uncertain. 

Aggressive climate mitigation would significantly reduce the dengue disease burden, according to the study. At the same time, adaptation will be essential. This includes better mosquito control, stronger health systems and potential widespread use of new dengue vaccines. 

In the meantime, the findings could help guide public health planning and strengthen efforts to hold governments and fossil fuel companies accountable for climate change damages. Attribution studies are increasingly entering courtrooms and policy debates, used to assign responsibility for climate damages and to support funds compensating countries most affected.  

“Climate change is not just affecting the weather — it has cascading consequences for human health, including fueling disease transmission by mosquitoes,” Mordecai said. “Even as the U.S. federal government moves away from investing in climate mitigation and climate and health research, this work is more crucial than ever for anticipating and mitigating the human suffering caused by fossil fuel emissions.” 

Co-authors of the study include Kelsey Lyberger of Arizona State University, Mallory Harris of the University of Maryland, and Marshall Burke of Stanford. Lyberger and Harris completed much of their work while at Stanford.   

The research was funded by the Illich-Sadowsky Fellowship through the Interdisciplinary Graduate Fellowship program at Stanford University; an Environmental Fellowship at the Harvard University Center for the Environment; the National Institutes of Health; the National Science Foundation (with the Fogarty International Center); the Stanford Center for Innovation in Global Health; the Stanford King Center on Global Development; and the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment. 

Adapted from a press release by Stanford University. For more information or to contact the researchers, email Alden Woods at acwoods@uw.edu.

Two University of Washington faculty members have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences:

• Adrienne Fairhall, professor of neurobiology and biophysics, and adjunct professor of applied mathematics
• David Hertzog, Arthur B. McDonald Professor of Physics and director at the Center for Experimental Nuclear Physics and Astrophysics

Fairhall and Hertzog are among 120 new members and 30 international members elected “in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research,” announced April 29 by the Academy. Chartered in 1863, the National Academy of Sciences provides policy advice and input to governmental, nonprofit and private organizations.

Adrienne FairhallJ. Garner Photography

Fairhall’s group at UW Medicine develops theoretical approaches to understand how nervous systems process information. She collaborates with experimental labs across the UW, examining information processing in systems that range from single neurons — nerve cells that receive and conduct signals — to neural networks. She’s studied how mosquitoes use heat and chemical cues to forage, and how neural inputs drive muscle activation and biomechanics in hydra — tiny, tentacled invertebrates that live in water.

Fairhall grew up in Australia. She completed her master’s and Ph.D. in physics at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel. She was a postdoctoral scholar at Princeton University before joining the UW School of Medicine faculty in 2004. Among Fairhall’s honors and awards are a Sloan Fellowship, a Burroughs Wellcome “Careers at the Scientific Interface” Fellowship and a McKnight Scholar Award. She was named an Allen Institute Distinguished Investigator. In 2022, she was Fulbright-Tocqueville Distinguished Chair at the École Normale Supérieure in Paris.

David Hertzog

Hertzog leads the UW Precision Muon Physics Group, a research group that has designed and constructed detectors for high-precision experiments with muons — similar to electrons, but about 200 times more massive — conducted at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory near Chicago. The UW team also has led efforts to analyze the massive amounts of data produced in that experiment, known as the Muon g-2 experiment.

The overarching goal is to test the Standard Model — a theory to describe how the universe works at its most fundamental level. Studying the behavior of muons may help determine whether muons are interacting solely with known particles and forces, or if unknown particles or forces exist.

Hertzog completed his Ph.D. in physics at The College of William & Mary. Following time at Carnegie-Mellon University and the University of Illinois, he joined the UW as a professor in 2010. He’s served on numerous scientific advisory committees and panels and is coauthor of more than 200 papers and technical reports. He has mentored or co-mentored more than 20 Ph.D. students and 15 postdoctoral researchers.

With this year’s additions, the National Academy of Sciences now has 2,662 active members and 556 international members.

Note: the first bullet below under "key findings from the new survey" has been updated (10/20/25)

DALLAS, Oct. 20, 2025 — About 9 in 10 U.S. adults have not heard of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome, a newly defined health condition affecting nearly 90% of adults that includes heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes and obesity, according to a new survey from the American Heart Association, a relentless force changing the future of health for everyone everywhere. However, many are interested in learning more about it.

Nearly 90% of U.S. adults have at least one risk factor for CKM syndrome[1], including high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol, high blood glucose (sugar), excess weight and reduced kidney function. The interplay of these risk factors increases the risk for heart attack, stroke and heart failure more than any one of them alone. For most of them, CKM syndrome is reversible with changes to their eating pattern, physical activity and appropriate treatment.[2],[3]

“We want people to know that it’s really common to have heart, kidney and metabolic risk factors at the same time. It is reassuring that once the CKM connection was defined nearly three-quarters of those responding understood that it was important and wanted to learn more,” said Eduardo Sanchez, M.D., FAHA, the American Heart Association’s chief medical officer for prevention.

CKM health includes the heart, kidneys and metabolic system (responsible for creating, using and storing energy, which affects weight and blood glucose level). These systems are connected and function together. When one system is functioning poorly, it can make the others worse. This creates a cycle that puts your health at serious risk for CKM syndrome. The Association will issue the first ever guidelines on CKM syndrome in early 2026.

Key findings from the new survey:

• 12% of U.S. adults had heard of CKM health or CKM syndrome
• 79% agreed that it is important that they understand more about CKM health and 72% said they are interested in learning more about it
• People are most interested in learning about how CKM syndrome is treated (72%) and diagnosed (71%)
• 68% of U.S. adults incorrectly believe it’s best to manage individual conditions one at a time or weren’t sure of the best way to manage them
• 42% believed that a healthy heart would not likely be damaged by other organ systems or weren’t sure

“The heart, kidney and metabolic systems are connected and, as such, should be treated in a coordinated way,” Sanchez said. "These results reveal the need to emphasize those connections and help patients understand the importance of collaborative care.”

The American Heart Association’s CKM Health Initiative™ is providing a website and educational resources to help people understand how heart, kidney and metabolic health are connected and take action early to prevent a heart attack, heart failure or stroke. The Association is also working with healthcare teams across the country to improve collaboration among health care professionals who care for patients living with multiple health conditions.

A new video helps by clarifying “2 truths” about heart health with a simplified visual and explanation (watch the video here):

1. The heart pumps blood to the body
2. The metabolic system turns glucose (sugar) from the blood into energy
3. The process of metabolism dumps waste back into the blood
4. The kidneys filter waste from the blood and balance fluids, which helps with blood pressure
5. Blood pressure affects how the heart pumps blood into the body

“CKM health is about your overall health,” said Sanchez. “It’s a full circle. You can take care of your overall health with regular checks of your blood pressure, cholesterol, weight, blood sugar and kidney function.”

The Harris Poll conducted a survey in August 2025 on behalf of the Heart Association to gauge public awareness of CKM syndrome and CKM health. About 4,000 U.S. adults were surveyed. Health care professionals can access resources on interdisciplinary care and information about joining the CKM Health Initiative at heart.org/CKMtools. The American Heart Association’s Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Health Initiative is made possible by Founding Sponsors Novo Nordisk® and Boehringer Ingelheim,Supporting Sponsors Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation and Bayer, and Champion Sponsor DaVita®.

Additional Resources:

• Multimedia is available on the right column of release link.
• House Calls, featuring Dr. Sanchez (video)
  • What is CKM Syndrome?
  • Think you have CKM syndrome? Here’s what to do next.
• Your Health is Connected (PDF)
• Myth vs Fact: Understanding CKM syndrome (PDF)
• Follow AHA/ASA news on X @HeartNews

The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association receives funding primarily from individuals; foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific Association programs and events. The Association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content. Revenues from pharmaceutical and biotech companies, device manufacturers and health insurance providers and the Association’s overall financial information are available here.

Research Methodology

The research was conducted online in the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of  the American Heart Association among 4,007 US adults aged 18+. The survey was conducted 8/6 - 8/22/2025.

Data are weighted where necessary by education, age by gender, race/ethnicity, region, household income, size of household, marital status, employment, and smoking status to bring them in line with their actual proportions in the population.Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in our surveys.

The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within ± 2.0 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. This credible interval will be wider among subsets of the surveyed population of interest. All sample surveys and polls, whether or not they use probability sampling, are subject to other multiple sources of error which are most often not possible to quantify or estimate, including, but not limited to coverage error, error associated with nonresponse, error associated with question wording and response options, and post-survey weighting and adjustments.

###

About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.

For Media Inquiries: 214-706-1173

Maggie Francis: Maggie.Francis@heart.org

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org and stroke.org 

• In a review of medical records for more than 56,000 pregnancies over a 20-year period, about 15% of pregnancies were impacted by cardiovascular complications like heart attack or stroke, hypertension-related conditions or maternal death.
• The prevalence of complications rose over time, driven by increases in health risk factors for cardiovascular disease like obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol.
• Experts say engaging with a health care provider before, during and after pregnancy is critical to ensure optimal health for mother and baby.

Embargoed until 4 a.m. CT/5 a.m. ET Monday, Oct. 6, 2025

DALLAS, Oct. 6, 2025 — Cardiovascular-related health problems may occur in as many as 1 out of every 7 pregnancies, even among people who don’t already have heart disease, according to new research published today in the American Heart Association’s flagship journal Circulation.

A review of more than 56,000 pregnancies occurring between 2001 and 2019 within the Mass General Brigham health care system in New England found a steady rise in cardiovascular-related complications during pregnancy. Conditions such as heart attack, stroke, heart failure, blood clots, hypertensive disorders, and maternal death affected approximately 15% of pregnancies. The increase was most pronounced among individuals with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions, but it was observed across all age groups and even among those without prior health issues.

These increases were impacted by a rise in health risk factors present before and during pregnancy. Among study participants:

• Obesity increased from 2% in 2001 to 16% in 2019.
• High blood pressure increased from 3% to 12%.
• High cholesterol increased from 3% to 10%.
• Diabetes increased from 1% to 3%.

“Most of these health risk factors can be prevented through lifestyle changes or medication. Yet, many of my patients aren’t even aware they have these conditions or that they’re at risk,” said Stacey E. Rosen, M.D., FAHA, volunteer president of the American Heart Association and senior vice president of women’s health and executive director of the Katz Institute for Women’s Health of Northwell Health in New York City. “If you're planning to become pregnant, I strongly encourage you to connect with a clinician early to understand your risks and take steps to reduce them. During pregnancy, stay proactive about your health. Listen to your body and your provider to address any concerns that arise. And don’t overlook the postpartum period, which also carries important health considerations. Starting before pregnancy and continuing after birth, there are valuable opportunities to make heart-healthy choices that can help prevent cardiovascular disease and support long-term wellness.”

The full study can be found here.

Studies published in the American Heart Association’s scientific journals are peer-reviewed. The statements and conclusions in each manuscript are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the Association’s policy or position. The Association makes no representation or guarantee as to their accuracy or reliability.

The Association receives more than 85% of its revenue from sources other than corporations. These sources include contributions from individuals, foundations and estates, as well as investment earnings and revenue from the sale of our educational materials. Corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations to the Association. The Association has strict policies to prevent any donations from influencing its science content and policy positions. Overall financial information is available here.

Additional Resources:

• Multimedia is available on the right column of release link.
• Heart disease risk factors in women highlight need for increased awareness, prevention | American Heart Association
• Pregnancy and Maternal Health Resources and Tools | Go Red for Women
• Call to Action: Maternal Health and Saving Mothers: A Policy Statement From the American Heart Association
• Follow AHA/ASA news on X @HeartNews
• Follow news from AHA’s flagship journal Circulation @CircAHA

###

About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.

For Media Inquiries and AHA/ASA Expert Perspective: 214-706-1173

Staff contact: Cathy.Lewis@heart.org

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org and stroke.org

• Solo 1 de cada 7 imágenes de archivo en línea sobre el monitoreo de la presión arterial coincidía con los procedimientos recomendados por las directrices clínicas.
• Las imágenes de archivo en línea que mostraban el monitoreo de la presión arterial en el hogar eran aproximadamente tres veces más precisas que las imágenes que mostraban el monitoreo de la presión arterial en un consultorio médico, un centro de cuidados de salud o un hospital.
• Este estudio se encuentra entre los primeros estudios en los que se revisan imágenes en línea de personas a las que se les mide la presión arterial en los principales sitios web de fotos de archivo.

Prohibida su divulgación hasta las 2 p. m. CT/3 p. m. ET del lunes 8 de septiembre del 2025

DALLAS, 8 de septiembre del 2025 — Según una nueva investigación publicada hoy en Hypertension (sitio web en inglés), una revista médica de la American Heart Association, solo 1 de cada 7 imágenes de archivo en línea sobre el monitoreo de la presión arterial muestra de forma correcta cómo se debe medir la presión arterial, lo que implica lecturas posiblemente inexactas en casa y en los consultorios médicos, los centros de cuidados de salud o los hospitales.

El estudio es uno de los primeros estudios en los que se evalúa sistemáticamente la precisión de las imágenes en línea que representan mediciones de la presión arterial en los principales sitios web de fotos de archivo con base en el Consenso Internacional sobre la Medición Estandarizada de la Presión Arterial en Clínicas del 2023 (sitio web en inglés).

“Esperábamos que alrededor del 50% de las imágenes fueran precisas; sin embargo, nuestros hallazgos fueron peores de lo esperado”, afirmó la autora principal, Alta Schutte, Ph.D., profesora de medicina cardiovascular en la Universidad de Nueva Gales del Sur en Sídney y codirectora del programa cardiovascular en The George Institute for Global Health en Australia. “Debido a que las personas tienden a recordar mejor las imágenes que las palabras, un fenómeno conocido como efecto de superioridad de la imagen, las imágenes inexactas podrían tener graves consecuencias para la salud pública”.

Según la American Heart Association, casi la mitad de los adultos en los Estados Unidos padecen presión arterial alta. (Del 2017 al 2020, 122.4 millones de adultos en los Estados Unidos, o un 46.7%, padecían presión arterial alta; fuente: Estadísticas sobre enfermedades cardíacas y derrames cerebrales [ataques cerebrales] del 2025 de la American Heart Association [sitio web en inglés).

“Cada vez más personas se toman la presión arterial en casa. Sin embargo, debido a la inexactitud de las imágenes que se muestran en Internet, incluso en sitios web de prestigio, es muy probable que las personas que buscan información sobre la presión arterial en Internet vean estas imágenes y usen una técnica incorrecta en casa. Si esto ocurre, las personas obtendrán lecturas de presión arterial demasiado altas o demasiado bajas, lo que puede llevar a conclusiones erróneas sobre la presión arterial y, posiblemente, a un tratamiento excesivo o insuficiente cuando compartan estas mediciones con el equipo de cuidados de salud”, afirmó Schutte.

El análisis reveló lo siguiente:

• Solo el 14% de las más de 1,000 imágenes que mostraban a adultos sometiéndose a una medición de la presión arterial eran precisa
• Entre las desviaciones de las directrices clínicas que implicaban la inexactitud de las fotos se incluían las siguientes:
  • la espalda de la persona no estaba apoyada (73%);
  • el antebrazo no estaba apoyado sobre una superficie plana o una mesa (55%);
  • aparecía un dispositivo manual de bombeo en lugar de un dispositivo electrónico o que funciona con baterías en la parte superior del brazo (52%);
  • los pies no estaban apoyados en el suelo (36%);
  • el profesional de la salud (23%) y el paciente (18%) hablaban mientras se realizaba la medición;
  • la parte media del brazo no estaba a la altura del corazón (19%);
  • las personas tenían las piernas cruzadas (13%);
  • el paciente no estaba sentado (5%); y
  • el manguito de presión arterial estaba sobre la ropa (12%) y no sobre el brazo desnudo.
• El 25% de las imágenes que mostraban la automedición de la presión arterial en casa eran precisas, en comparación con solo el 8% de las imágenes que mostraban la medición de la presión arterial en el consultorio de un médico, un centro de cuidados de salud o un hospital.
• Las imágenes que mostraban mediciones de la presión arterial realizadas por el propio paciente u otra persona tenían 6 veces más probabilidades de mostrar técnicas precisas en comparación con las imágenes que mostraban a un profesional de la salud midiendo la presión arterial.

“Se han realizado muchos estudios interesantes sobre los errores en la medición de la presión arterial y el efecto de dichos errores en la presión arterial; por ejemplo, en el caso de que el manguito en la parte superior del brazo no se mantenga a la altura del corazón. Esta es la primera evaluación de imágenes de medición de la presión arterial disponibles públicamente que destaca el problema de las imágenes inexactas”, señaló Schutte.

“Es importante que las personas comprendan cómo medir correctamente su presión arterial. Las lecturas inexactas en las clínicas también son un problema muy común. Queremos que todas las personas conozcan cómo los profesionales de la salud deben tomar la presión arterial para que puedan identificar cualquier error en caso de que no se siga correctamente el procedimiento”, afirmó.

El presidente del comité de redacción de las directrices sobre presión arterial alta para el 2025 de la American Heart Association, publicadas el mes pasado, Daniel Jones, M.D., FAHA, expresó: “En este estudio, se destaca la importancia de usar imágenes precisas a fin de demostrar la técnica adecuada para medir la presión arterial. Se recomienda a los pacientes que se midan la presión arterial en casa con el fin de ayudar a confirmar el diagnóstico de presión arterial alta realizado en la consulta y para monitorear, realizar un seguimiento de la evolución y adaptar la atención como parte de un plan de atención integral”. Jones, que no participó en este estudio, también fue presidente voluntario de la American Heart Association (entre el 2007 y 2008) y, actualmente, es decano y profesor emérito de la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad de Misisipi.

La American Heart Association cuenta con recursos (sitio web en inglés) para ayudar a las personas a aprender las técnicas adecuadas para medir la presión arterial.

El estudio tiene varias limitaciones. Algunas imágenes estaban incompletas; por ejemplo, menos de una cuarta parte de ellas mostraban si la persona tenía los pies cruzados o apoyados en el suelo. Si estos detalles estuvieran claros, podrían afectar los niveles de precisión. Aunque las fotos incluidas no se penalizaron en función de características que no eran evaluables visualmente, los hallazgos pueden verse afectados. Además, es probable que las imágenes de archivo que se usaron en este estudio no se crearan de conformidad con las Directrices del Consenso Internacional. Por lo tanto, es probable que los errores encontrados no se deban a una interpretación errónea intencionada de la técnica adecuada, pero estas son las imágenes que los medios de comunicación y los desarrolladores de sitios web suelen usar.

Antecedentes y detalles del estudio:

• En el análisis, se usó una búsqueda en Google realizada el 22 de julio del 2024 para identificar una lista completa de 11 sitios principales de fotos de archivo en línea (123rf, Adobe Stock, Alamy, Bigstockphoto, Dreamstime, Flickr, Freepik, Getty Images, iStock, Pikwizard y Shutterstock).

• Se descargaron las primeras 100 fotos de cada sitio de fotos de archivo en línea para su posterior selección. Se excluyeron los sitios de fotos de archivo con más del 10% de imágenes duplicadas. También se excluyeron las imágenes de dibujos animados o ficticias, las imágenes generadas por inteligencia artificial (IA) y las fotos sin personas.

• De las 121,000 imágenes, 1,106 fotos se identificaban con el término de búsqueda “control de la presión arterial” en adultos y dos revisores las analizaron. En general, alrededor del 63% de las imágenes mostraban el consultorio de un médico o un hospital, mientras que alrededor del 37% mostraban el monitoreo de la presión arterial en el hogar.

• El 72.8% de las fotos mostraba a un profesional de la salud realizando la medición de la presión arterial, el 24.5% mostraba a un paciente realizando la medición y el 2.7% mostraba a otras personas realizando esta acción.

• Los conflictos (desacuerdos entre los revisores) sobre cada imagen en línea se resolvieron en dos etapas. En primer lugar, dos revisores examinaron de forma independiente las fotos de archivo y, a continuación, se reunieron en grupo para analizar los criterios de selección y determinar si la imagen representaba con precisión las técnicas correctas de medición de la presión arterial. Se comprobó la precisión de las mediciones de la presión arterial representadas en las imágenes en función de los siguientes criterios: si el paciente o la persona que realizaba la medición estaba hablando o riendo; la posición del paciente: sentado, con todo el antebrazo apoyado en la mesa, la parte media del brazo a la altura del corazón, la espalda apoyada en una silla, las piernas sin cruzar y los pies apoyados en el suelo; el tipo de dispositivo de medición de la presión arterial: un dispositivo electrónico para la parte superior del brazo en lugar de un dispositivo manual; y el manguito de presión arterial: puesto sobre el brazo desnudo.

“Observamos fotos con técnicas incorrectas en los sitios web de importantes organizaciones de salud y universidades. Instamos a estas organizaciones, medios de comunicación, creadores de fotos de archivo, desarrolladores web, periodistas médicos e investigadores a que revisen más detenidamente sus imágenes en línea. Deben verificar que todas las imágenes muestren cómo medir la presión arterial con precisión y representen las técnicas adecuadas para reducir la probabilidad de lecturas incorrectas de la presión arterial en casa y en entornos clínicos”, mencionó Schutte.

Los coautores, las divulgaciones y las fuentes de financiamiento se indican en el artículo.

Los estudios publicados en las revistas médicas científicas de la American Heart Association son revisados por expertos. Las afirmaciones y conclusiones en cada artículo son solo aquellas de los autores del estudio y no reflejan necesariamente la política ni la posición de la Asociación. La Asociación no ofrece representación ni garantía de ningún tipo de su exactitud o confiabilidad. La Asociación recibe más de un 85% de sus ingresos de fuentes distintas a las empresas. Estas fuentes incluyen contribuciones de personas particulares, fundaciones y patrimonios, así como ganancias por inversiones e ingresos por la venta de nuestros materiales informativos. Las empresas (incluidas las farmacéuticas, los fabricantes de dispositivos y otras compañías) también realizan donaciones a la Asociación. La Asociación tiene políticas estrictas para evitar que las donaciones influyan en el contenido científico y en las posturas de sus políticas. La información financiera general está disponible aquí (sitio web en inglés).

Recursos adicionales:

• Fotos disponibles en la columna derecha del enlace del comunicado.
• Comunicado de prensa en inglés
• Después del 8 de septiembre del 2025, consulta el artículo (sitio web en inglés) en línea.
• Comunicado de prensa de la American Heart Association: La nueva pauta sobre la presión arterial alta enfatiza la prevención y el tratamiento temprano para reducir el riesgo de ECV (agosto del 2025) (sitio web en inglés).
• Comunicado de prensa de la American Heart Association: Es posible que los manguitos de monitoreo de la presión arterial en casa más populares no se ajusten a algunos adultos estadounidenses (septiembre del 2024) (sitio web en inglés).
• Declaraciones de políticas de la American Heart Association: Automedición de la presión arterial en casa: una declaración conjunta de las políticas de la American Heart Association y la American Medical Association (junio del 2020) (sitio web en inglés).
• Información de salud de la American Heart Association: Presión arterial alta (sitio web en inglés).
• Información de salud de la American Heart Association: Video sobre el monitoreo de la presión arterial en casa (sitio web en inglés).
• Sigue las noticias de la AHA/ASA en X @HeartNews.
• Sigue las noticias de la revista médica Hypertension de la AHA @HyperAHA (sitio web en inglés).

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Acerca de la American Heart Association

La American Heart Association es una fuerza incansable para un mundo de vidas más largas y saludables. La organización ha sido una fuente líder de información sobre salud durante más de cien años y su objetivo es garantizar la equidad en la salud en todas las comunidades. Con el apoyo de más de 35 millones de voluntarios en todo el mundo, financiamos investigaciones vanguardistas, defendemos la salud pública y proporcionamos recursos fundamentales para salvar y mejorar vidas afectadas por enfermedades cardiovasculares y ataques o derrames cerebrales. Trabajamos incansablemente para hacer avanzar la salud y transformar vidas cada día mediante el impulso de avances y la implementación de soluciones comprobadas en las áreas de ciencia, políticas y cuidados. Comunícate con nosotros en heart.org (sitio web en inglés), Facebook, X o llama al 1-800-AHA-USA1.

Para consultas de los medios de comunicación o el punto de vista experto de la AHA/ASA:214-706-1173

Karen Astle: Karen.Astle@heart.org

Para consultas públicas: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org (sitio web en inglés) y derramecerebral.org

• Only 1 in 7 online stock images of blood pressure monitoring aligned with the procedures recommended by clinical guidelines.
• Online stock images depicting blood pressure monitoring in the home were approximately three times more accurate than images depicting blood pressure monitoring in a physician’s office, health care facility or hospital.
• This study is among the first to review online images of people having their blood pressure measured from major stock photo websites.

Embargoed until 2 p.m. CT/3 p.m. ET Monday, September 8, 2025

DALLAS, September 8, 2025 — Only 1 in 7 online stock photo images of blood pressure monitoring correctly show how blood pressure should be measured, contributing to potentially inaccurate readings at home and in physicians’ offices, health care facilities or hospitals, according to new research published today in Hypertension, an American Heart Association journal.

The study is one of the first to systematically evaluate the accuracy of online images depicting blood pressure measurements on major stock photo websites based on the 2023 International Consensus on Standardized Clinic Blood Pressure Measurement.

“We expected that about 50% of images would be accurate, however, our findings were worse than expected,” said lead author Alta Schutte, Ph.D., a professor of cardiovascular medicine at the University of New South Wales Sydney, and co-lead of the cardiovascular program at The George Institute for Global Health in Australia. “Because people tend to remember images better than words — a phenomenon known as the picture-superiority effect — inaccurate visuals could have serious public health consequences.”

Nearly half of all adults in the U.S. have high blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association. (From 2017 to 2020, 122.4 million adults in the U.S., or 46.7%, had high blood pressure; source: American Heart Association’s 2025 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics)

”More people are checking their blood pressure at home. But because of the inaccurate depictions online – even on reputable websites – it is very likely that people who look for information on the internet about blood pressure will see these images and may use the incorrect technique at home. If this happens, people will get blood pressure readings that are either too high or too low, which can lead to wrong conclusions about their blood pressure and possibly too much or too little treatment when these blood pressure measures are shared with their health care team,” Schutte said.

The analysis found:

• Only 14% of more than 1,000 images depicting adults having their blood pressure measured were accurate.
• Deviations from clinical guidelines that contributed to photo inaccuracy included:
  • the individual’s back was not supported (73%);
  • the whole forearm was not resting on a flat surface or table (55%);
  • using a manual self-pumping device instead of an electronic or battery-operated upper-arm device (52%);
  • feet were dangling rather than flat on the floor (36%);
  • the health care professional (23%) and patient (18%) were talking while taking the measurement;
  • mid-arm was not at heart level (19%);
  • people had their legs crossed (13%);
  • the patient was not sitting (5%); and
  • the blood pressure cuff was placed over clothing (12%) rather than the bare arm.
• 25% of images showing self-measurement of blood pressure at home were accurate compared to only 8% of images depicting blood pressure measurements in a physician’s office, health care facility or hospital.
• Images depicting blood pressure measurements taken by the patient themselves or another person were 6 times more likely to show accurate techniques compared to images showing blood pressure measured by a health care professional.

“There have been many interesting studies about errors in blood pressure measurement and the blood pressure effect of such errors, for example, if the cuff on the upper arm is not held at heart level. This is the first evaluation of publicly available images of blood pressure measurement to highlight the problem with inaccurate images,” Schutte said.

“It is important for people to understand how to measure their blood pressure correctly. Inaccurate readings in clinics are also a very common problem. We want everyone to know how health care professionals should take blood pressure measurements so they can identify any mistakes if the procedure is not followed correctly,” she said.

Chair of the American Heart Association’s 2025 high blood pressure guideline writing committee released last month, Daniel Jones, M.D., FAHA, said, “This study highlights the importance of using accurate images to demonstrate the proper technique for measuring blood pressure. Home blood pressure monitoring is recommended for patients to help confirm an office diagnosis of high blood pressure and to monitor, track progress and tailor care as part of an integrated care plan.” Jones, who was not involved in this study, is also a past volunteer president of the American Heart Association (2007-2008) and currently dean and professor emeritus of the University of Mississippi School of Medicine.

The American Heart Association has resources to help people learn proper blood pressure measurement techniques.

The study has several limitations. Some images were incomplete; for instance, less than a quarter of them showed whether the person had their feet crossed or flat on the floor. If these details were clear, it might affect accuracy levels. Although the included photos were not penalized based on features that were not visually assessable, the findings may be affected. Additionally, the stock images used in this study were probably not created with the International Consensus Guidelines in mind. So, any errors found likely do not stem from an intentional misrepresentation of proper technique, yet these are the images that are typically used by the media and website developers.

Study background and details:

• The analysis used a Google search conducted on July 22, 2024, to identify a comprehensive list of 11 major online stock photo sites (123rf, Adobe Stock, Alamy, Bigstockphoto, Dreamstime, Flickr, Freepik, Getty Images, iStock, Pikwizard and Shutterstock).

• The first 100 photos from each online stock photo site were downloaded for further screening. Stock photo sites with more than 10% duplicate images were excluded. Cartoon or fictional images, AI-generated images or photos without people were also excluded.

• Of 121,000 images, 1,106 photos identified with the search term “blood pressure check” in adults were each reviewed by two reviewers. Overall, about 63% of the images were in a physician’s office or hospital, while about 37% showed home blood pressure monitoring in a home setting.

• Blood pressure measurements were performed by a health care professional in 72.8% of the photos, 24.5% were done by the patient and 2.7% were taken by other people.

• Conflicts (reviewers not agreeing) of each online image were resolved in two stages. First, two reviewers independently examined the stock photos, then met as a group to discuss the screening criteria and determine if the image accurately depicted correct blood pressure measuring techniques. Blood pressure measurements depicted in the images were checked for accuracy based on: whether the patient or the person taking the measurement was talking or laughing; the patient’s position: sitting, whether their whole forearm was resting on the table, mid-arm at heart level, back supported by a chair, legs uncrossed, and feet flat on the floor; the type of blood pressure measurement device: an electronic upper-arm device instead of a manual device; and the blood pressure cuff: placed on a bare arm.

“We have noted photos with wrong techniques on the websites of major health organizations and universities. We urge these organizations, media outlets, stock photo creators, web developers, medical journalists, and researchers to take a closer look at their online images. They should check that all images show how to measure blood pressure accurately and represent the proper techniques to reduce the likelihood of incorrect blood pressure readings at home and in clinical settings,” Schutte said.

Co-authors, disclosures and funding sources are listed in the manuscript.

Studies published in the American Heart Association’s scientific journals are peer-reviewed. The statements and conclusions in each manuscript are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the Association’s policy or position. The Association makes no representation or guarantee as to their accuracy or reliability. The Association receives more than 85% of its revenue from sources other than corporations. These sources include contributions from individuals, foundations and estates, as well as investment earnings and revenue from the sale of our educational materials. Corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations to the Association. The Association has strict policies to prevent any donations from influencing its science content and policy positions. Overall financial information is available here.

Additional Resources:

• Multimedia is available on the right column of release link.
• Spanish news release
• After September 8, 2025, view the manuscript online.
• American Heart Association news release: New high blood pressure guideline emphasizes prevention, early treatment to reduce CVD risk (Aug. 2025)
• American Heart Association news release: Popular home blood pressure monitoring cuff devices may not fit some US adults (Sept. 2024)
• American Heart Association policy statement: Self-Measured Blood Pressure Monitoring at Home: A Joint Policy Statement From the American Heart Association and American Medical Association (June 2020)
• American Heart Association health information: High Blood Pressure
• American Heart Association health information: Home Blood Pressure Monitoring Video
• Follow AHA/ASA news on X @HeartNews
• Follow news from AHA’s Hypertension journal @HyperAHA

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About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.

For Media Inquiries and AHA/ASA Expert Perspective: 214-706-1173

Karen Astle: Karen.Astle@heart.org

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org and stroke.org

• Use of an AI voice agent to prompt self-reported blood pressure readings helped to improve accuracy of blood pressure measures and patient outcomes in a group of majority ages 65 and older patients with high blood pressure.
• The study’s findings demonstrate how integrating AI into care can help to improve home blood pressure monitoring and completion rates, which can lead to improved quality outcomes for patients.
• Note: The study featured in this news release is a research abstract. Abstracts presented at the American Heart Association’s scientific meetings are not peer-reviewed, and the findings are considered preliminary until published as a full manuscript in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

Embargoed until 10:00 a.m., ET/9:00 a.m. CT, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025

BALTIMORE, Sept.7, 2025 — Artificial intelligence (AI) voice agents helped older adults with high blood pressure to accurately report their blood pressure readings and improved blood pressure management, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association’s Hypertension Scientific Sessions 2025. The meeting is in Baltimore, September 4-7, 2025, and is the premier scientific exchange focused on recent advances in basic and clinical research on high blood pressure and its relationship to cardiac and kidney disease, stroke, obesity and genetics.

“Controlling blood pressure remains a cornerstone for improving cardiovascular outcomes for patients, however, capturing timely, compliant blood pressure readings remains a challenge, particularly for patients with limited access to care,” said lead study author Tina-Ann Kerr Thompson, M.D., senior vice president of the primary care service line and executive director of the population health collaborative at Emory Healthcare in Atlanta. “In our study, we were able to improve accuracy of blood pressure measures and patient outcomes.”

AI voice agents are conversational systems powered by large language models that can understand and produce natural speech in real time when interacting with humans. This study included 2,000 adults, a majority ages 65 and older, and was designed to evaluate the effectiveness and scalability of a voice-enabled AI agent in engaging patients to self-report accurate blood pressure readings, in place of a phone call with a health care professional about their blood pressure measures. The AI agent also identified patients in need of follow-up medical care based on their blood pressure readings.

The AI voice-agent calls to patients were made using commercially available AI in multiple languages, including English and Spanish. A blood pressure reading outside the threshold range for readings that vary based on the presence of other conditions, such as diabetes, resulted in the call being escalated to a licensed nurse or medical assistant. The presence of symptoms such as dizziness, blurred vision or chest pain also prompted escalation of the call. Escalation to additional care was immediate in urgent situations or within 24 hours for non-urgent issues.  

The patients were contacted by the voice agent to provide recent blood pressure readings or to conduct live measurements during the call. After the call, the readings were entered into the patient’s electronic health record and reviewed by a clinician. Call routing and referrals for care management were prompted for patients with difficult-to-control high blood pressure. This process reduced the manual workload by clinicians and resulted in an 88.7% lower cost-per-reading. This amount was calculated by comparing the cost of commercially available AI voice agents with the use of human nurses to perform similar tasks that result in successfully obtaining patient self-reported blood pressure readings.

The study found that integrating AI into clinical workflows lowered costs and improved care management for patients. During the study period:

• 85% of patients were successfully reached by the voice-based AI agent.
• Of those patients, 67% completed the call, and 60% took a compliant blood pressure reading during the call. Among these patients, 68% met CBP (controlling blood pressure) Stars compliance thresholds.
• Overall, 1,939 CBP gaps were closed, elevating the measure from 1-Star to 4-Star performance—a 17% improvement. The Medicare Advantage (MA) and Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) CBP measure increased from a previously reported 1-star rating to 4-star rating.
• At the end of each completed call, patients received a two-question survey to rate their satisfaction on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being 100% satisfied. Among the completed calls, the average patient-reported satisfaction rate exceeded 9 out of 10, reflecting an excellent overall experience with the voice-based AI agent.

“We were surprised by the high patient satisfaction scores after interacting with artificial intelligence-based voice agents,” said Thompson. “We are excited for what that means for the future, since patient engagement and satisfaction are so critical to health care outcomes.”

“This could be a game-changing study,” said Eugene Yang, M.D., M.S., FACC, an American Heart Association volunteer expert. “Accurate blood pressure readings are essential to improving control, and new approaches can help make that possible. Breakthrough AI technologies like this could transform how we manage blood pressure by reaching patients wherever they are and addressing critical barriers, such as limited access to care and gaps in patient support.” Yang, who was not involved in this study, is a professor in the division of cardiology and the Carl and Renée Behnke Endowed Chair for Asian Health at University of Washington School of Medicine.

The study has several limitations. This study was observational and did not have a control group. The consecutive AI calls were not compared to human calls; instead, AI voice-calls were deployed because it was not possible to make an adequate number of human-only calls. In addition, the study was retrospective, meaning it reviewed existing data, and evaluation was completed after the clinically identified calls were already made.

Study details, background and design:

• Participants included 2,000 adults; a majority were ages 65 or older (average age of 72 years; 61% women) receiving care for high blood pressure.
• Review of electronic health records identified patients who were missing blood pressure data or whose most recent BP reading was not within the normal range of <120/80 mm Hg. Patients with these gaps in data were tagged to receive calls from the AI voice agent.
• The study was conducted with patients at Emory Healthcare in Atlanta during a 10-week period. Patients received at least one phone call during the study. Patients received more than one call if they did not answer the phone.
• Patients with open gaps in managing blood pressure were identified through electronic medical records (EMR) and payer analytics. Patient lists were reviewed to ensure the information in their records was correct, and they were verified for outreach by a clinical operations team to ensure real-time accuracy of gaps before outreach to the patients.
• AI texts, phone calls from the conventional care team, recent clinical visits where documentation could be found for a blood pressure reading and generative AI voice agents were used to contact patients to provide recent blood pressure readings or take their blood pressure reading during the call. These included any recent clinical visits where documentation could be found for a BP recorded. 
• A post-call validation step was integrated into the workflow, in which readings were entered into the EHR, reviewed by a clinician and submitted as supplemental data to close the Stars quality gap. For patients with uncontrolled high blood pressure, clinical escalation referrals were made to care management teams.
• The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) developed the Star Ratings system, known as MA Stars, to rate Medicare Advantage (MA) (Part C) and prescription drug (Part D) plans on a 5-star scale with 1 being the lowest score and 5 being the highest score. MA plans are plans from private insurance companies approved by Medicare and not issued by Medicare itself. Hospitals, care centers and clinicians are eligible to receive a bonus payment increase if they achieve at least a 4-star rating.

Self-measured blood pressure is a focus area of Target:BP, an American Heart Association initiative that helps health care organizations improve blood pressure control rates through an evidence-based program. 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, released last month.

Note: Oral presentation #107 is at 10:00 a.m. ET, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025.

Co-authors, their disclosures and funding sources are listed in the abstract.

Statements and conclusions of studies that are presented at the American Heart Association’s scientific meetings are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the Association’s policy or position. The Association makes no representation or guarantee as to their accuracy or reliability. Abstracts presented at the Association’s scientific meetings are not peer-reviewed, rather, they are curated by independent review panels and are considered based on the potential to add to the diversity of scientific issues and views discussed at the meeting. The findings are considered preliminary until published as a full manuscript in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

The Association receives more than 85% of its revenue from sources other than corporations. These sources include contributions from individuals, foundations and estates, as well as investment earnings and revenue from the sale of our educational materials. Corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations to the Association. The Association has strict policies to prevent any donations from influencing its science content and policy positions. Overall financial information is available here.

Additional Resources:

• Available multimedia is on right column of the release link.
• American Heart Association news release: Urgent need to develop best practices to advance use of AI in cardiovascular care (February 2024
• American Heart Association news release: New high blood pressure guideline emphasizes prevention, early treatment to reduce CVD risk (August 2025)
• American Heart Association health information: What is High Blood Pressure?
• American Heart Association health information: How to Accurately Measure Blood Pressure at Home
• American Heart Association health information: The Facts About High Blood Pressure
• Follow AHA/ASA news from the meeting on X @HeartNews #Hypertension25

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The American Heart Association’s Hypertension Scientific Sessions 2025 is a premier scientific conference dedicated to recent advancements in both basic and clinical research related to high blood pressure and its connections to cardiac and kidney diseases, stroke, obesity and genetics. The primary aim of the meeting is to bring together interdisciplinary researchers from around the globe and facilitate engagement with leading experts in the field of hypertension. Attendees will have the opportunity to discover the latest research findings and build lasting relationships with researchers and clinicians across various disciplines and career stages. Follow the conference on X using the hashtag #Hypertension25.

About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.

For Media Inquiries and AHA Expert Perspective:

AHA Communications & Media Relations in Dallas: 214-706-1173; ahacommunications@heart.org

Michelle Kirkwood: Michelle.Kirkwood@heart.org  

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org and stroke.org