How AI is Helping Hypertension (High Blood Pressure in the UK

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What is Hypertension?

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is when the pressure of the blood flowing through your arteries is consistently too high. Blood pressure is written as two numbers:

• Systolic pressure (the top number) - pressure when the heart beats.
• Diastolic pressure (the bottom number) - pressure when the heart relaxes.

In the UK, high blood pressure is usually diagnosed when readings are 140/90 mmHg or above in a clinic, or 135/85 mmHg or above when measured at home.
Reference: NHS — High blood pressure (hypertension)

Hypertension often has no symptoms, but it increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney disease and other serious conditions.
Reference: British Heart Foundation — High blood pressure

How Common Is Hypertension in the UK?

Around one in three adults in the UK has high blood pressure.
Reference: Blood Pressure UK — Blood pressure facts and figures
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In England, roughly 29% of adults with high blood pressure are undiagnosed, meaning millions of people are unaware they have it.
Reference: Office for National Statistics — Risk factors for undiagnosed high blood pressure (2015–2019)

How Has Hypertension Traditionally Been Managed in the UK?

1. Measuring and Diagnosing
Blood pressure is checked in GP surgeries, pharmacies or during NHS Health Checks. When needed, doctors may use ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) — a device you wear for 24 hours.
Reference: NHS — How high blood pressure is diagnosed

2. Lifestyle ChangesPeople are usually advised to:

• Reduce salt intake
• Stay active
• Achieve a healthy weight
• Limit alcohol
• Stop smoking

These steps can significantly lower blood pressure.
Reference: NHS — Prevention of high blood pressure

3. Medication
If lifestyle changes don’t fully control blood pressure, medicines such as ACE inhibitors, calcium-channel blockers or diuretics may be prescribed.
Reference: NICE Guidelines — Hypertension in adults: diagnosis and management

4. Ongoing Monitoring
​Regular reviews with a GP or nurse help ensure blood pressure remains within a safe target range tailored to the individual.
Reference: NHS — Treatment for high blood pressure

How Is AI Currently Helping People with Hypertension?

AI is not yet routine NHS practice for hypertension, but UK-based research is showing promising uses.

​1. Predicting Hypertension from ECG Results
Researchers at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust have developed an AI system that analyses ECG (heart tracing) results to predict the risk of developing high blood pressure or related complications.
Reference: Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust — AI model predicts high blood pressure

2. Analysing Eye Images to Estimate Blood Pressure
A deep-learning tool trained on UK Biobank retinal images has shown it can estimate systolic blood pressure and predict future cardiovascular risk.
Reference: UK Biobank — AI analysis of retinal images and blood pressure

3. Brain Imaging and Machine Learning
A UK Biobank study found that machine-learning models can use brain imaging data to identify patterns linked with current and future blood pressure levels.
Reference: Cardiovascular Research (Oxford University Press) — Brain signatures of blood pressure

4. Wearable Devices Combined with AI
​UK research teams are developing machine-learning models that estimate blood pressure using signals from smart wristbands and wearable sensors.
Reference: UK Biobank — Blood pressure estimation using smart devices

How Might AI Help People with Hypertension in the Future?​

​1. Earlier Detection
AI tools could screen large groups of people using ECGs, eye images or wearable data to identify those at risk sooner — helping reduce the number of undiagnosed cases.

2. More Personalised Care
AI could combine genetic information, imaging and health history to predict who is most likely to develop complications such as stroke or heart disease, supporting more tailored treatment plans.

3. Continuous Blood Pressure Monitoring
Future wearable devices using AI may track blood pressure more accurately throughout the day, giving patients and doctors better insight into real-time changes.

4. Better Self-Management Tools
AI-enabled apps may offer personalised advice on diet, activity and lifestyle based on an individual’s trends and risk profile.
​
5. Clinical Decision Support
​AI may assist GPs by suggesting which medicines are most likely to work for a particular patient or by highlighting early signs of deterioration.

References

References

• NHS. High blood pressure (hypertension).
• British Heart Foundation. High blood pressure information.
• Blood Pressure UK. Blood pressure facts and figures.
• Office for National Statistics. Risk factors for undiagnosed high blood pressure in England (2015–2019).
• NICE Guideline NG136. Hypertension in adults: diagnosis and management.
• Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. AI model predicts high blood pressure from ECGs.
• UK Biobank. AI analysis of retinal images relates to blood pressure.
• Cardiovascular Research (Oxford). Functional brain connectivity and blood pressure.
• UK Biobank. Blood pressure estimation research using smart wristbands.