Communication tool can improve treatment outcomes for patients with high blood pressure and cholesterol

For many people with high blood pressure or high cholesterol, the condition does not feel like an illness. The body rarely gives clear warning signs, even though the heart is gradually placed under greater strain than normal. This is precisely why it can be difficult to see the importance of lifestyle changes and adherence to treatment.

A new Danish study now suggests that the way in which a GP communicates a patient’s risk of heart disease can make a significant difference. Providing people with a clear, personalised overview of their heart health – combined with simple, ongoing lifestyle guidance in addition to standard treatment – can lead to better choices and measurable improvements in both blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

What makes the study particularly noteworthy is that patients achieved improvements in their heart health through a relatively simple intervention consisting of user-friendly visual communication that explains how risk factors affect the heart.

– Our results show that clear and accessible communication support, alongside standard treatment, can lead to measurable improvements in both blood pressure and cholesterol levels in people with elevated levels, says Kathrine Stjernholm Nielsen, medical doctor and PhD student at the Research Unit for General Practice, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark.

From abstract numbers to a concrete overview

The study examined a digital tool, Your Heart Forecast, designed for use in general practice. The tool enables the GP to show patients how factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol and smoking influence their risk of developing heart disease in the years ahead.

Instead of focusing solely on numbers and clinical thresholds, the projected development is illustrated using graphs and colours. Patients can see what their situation looks like now, how it could look under more favourable conditions – and what might happen if they change specific risk factors.

After discussing Your Heart Forecast with their GP, participants received monthly emails containing general advice on diet, physical activity and other everyday habits that are important for heart health.

– Many people do not feel that their blood pressure or cholesterol is elevated. It can therefore be difficult to stay motivated to make healthy lifestyle choices or continue medical treatment. When the link between everyday life and heart health is made visible, it becomes easier to understand why even small changes can make a difference, explains Kathrine Stjernholm Nielsen.

Screenshot from the digital tool Your Heart Forecast, which can help general practitioners advise patients on heart health.

Better results with a simple intervention

In the study, researchers compared people who had access to the tool and the ongoing lifestyle advice with a group receiving usual care from their GP.

The results were most pronounced among those with the highest levels at baseline. In this group, both systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased more in the group that received the visual overview and emails than in the comparison group. Cholesterol levels also improved – an effect that was not observed to the same extent among those who received usual care only.

– Previous research has shown that this type of tool can improve patients’ understanding of the need for treatment and lifestyle changes. What is new here is that we also see this improved understanding translating into actual reductions in blood pressure and cholesterol, she says.

When communication becomes part of prevention

According to the researchers, the results indicate that prevention is not only about prescriptions and recommendations, but also about how easy it is to understand one’s own health situation.

The study shows that even a relatively simple intervention can help people who otherwise struggle to reduce their blood pressure and cholesterol to healthier levels.

– This can be seen as a supplement to existing treatment and can be used in preventive consultations with people who have elevated levels, says Kathrine Stjernholm Nielsen.

She emphasises that the tool does not replace the GP’s clinical assessment or treatment, but can strengthen the dialogue and provide a shared starting point for decisions made during the consultation.