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HypertensionOctober 2025Summary reviewed August 2026

Home Visits Cut High Blood Pressure More Than Clinic Visits in South Africa

Community health workers visited patients at home to deliver blood pressure medication and collect readings. At 6 months, 61% of patients who got home visits had their high blood pressure under control, compared to 33% who went to clinics. The results lasted through 12 months.

What the trial was testing

The IMPACT-BP enrolled 774 patients with hypertension. The study was sponsored by Brigham and Women's Hospital and tracked outcomes across the full group of patients who matched the trial's eligibility profile.

Researchers followed patients through treatment and into recovery, tracking the outcomes that mattered most for the disease being studied.

What the results showed

61% of patients who got home visits had their blood pressure under control, compared to 33% who went to clinics.

The New England journal of medicine · 2025 · NCT05492955

These findings — that patients who got home visits vs. 33% with clinic visits — were published in the The New England journal of medicine and represent the headline result of the study.

Researchers tracked outcomes across 774 patients enrolled in the trial. The result was consistent enough across the group that the team felt confident reporting it.

What this means for patients

For patients with hypertension, this result changes the calculus on what to ask their care team about. Whether it changes day-to-day care depends on factors like disease subtype, prior treatments, and where the patient is in their care journey.

What you can do now

If you live in a rural area and struggle to get to clinic appointments, this study shows home-based care can work better than traditional visits. A community health worker brings your medication and checks your blood pressure at home, with a nurse managing your treatment remotely. This approach is not widely available yet, but it could change how high blood pressure is treated in hard-to-reach communities.

Eligibility for the treatments mentioned above depends on specific test results and clinical history. Bring this summary, the trial name, and your most recent labs or pathology report to your next visit.