JAMA Cardiol

Why do so many patients skip home blood pressure checks?

January 22, 2026

A cohort study of 3,390 adults in a remote hypertension program found that one‑third (33%) didn’t monitor their blood pressure at all, despite receiving free devices, structured education, and personalized navigator support. Only 35% achieved high engagement (24–28 readings/week), with the rest showing low (14%) or intermediate (18%) use. Researchers note that even fully resourced programs may not overcome the cognitive load, workflow disruption, or daily‑life barriers that make sustained home blood pressure monitoring difficult.

Clinical takeaway: The results underscore the need for more user‑friendly, innovative wearable technology—similar to continuous glucose monitors used in diabetes care—that could automatically track blood pressure and ease the monitoring burden on patients.

Source:

Unlu, O, et al. (2026, January 21). JAMA Cardiol. Patient Engagement With Home Blood Pressure Monitoring. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41563766/