Research Highlights:
Embargoed until 4 a.m. CT/5 a.m. ET, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026
This news release contains updated information not available in the abstract.
DALLAS, Nov. 2, 2026 — Using artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze patterns in measures from a portable cuff-based blood pressure monitor and health data from a wrist-worn device may help identify when adults with stage 2 high blood pressure (blood pressure ≥140/90 mm Hg) are at increased risk of a dangerously high blood pressure episode (>180/120 mm Hg with acute end-organ damage), known as a hypertensive crisis, up to three days before it occurs, according to new, independent, preliminary research to be presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2026 . The meeting, Nov. 6-9, in Chicago, is a premier global exchange of the latest scientific advancements, research and evidence-based clinical practice updates in cardiovascular science.
“Everyone’s blood pressure changes throughout the day and night, and a single reading only captures one moment in time,” said Waleed Razzaq Chaudhry, M.D., lead study author and an internal medicine resident at the University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center in Largo, Maryland. “By continuously tracking blood pressure and identifying patterns, we found that AI analysis of blood pressure may be a valuable addition to help identify early warning signs of dangerously high blood pressure.”
A hypertensive crisis occurs when blood pressure rises quickly and severely, with readings higher than 180/120 mm Hg that accompany acute end-organ damage. Blood pressure in this range can lead to stroke, heart attack, kidney damage, aortic dissection or pulmonary edema (fluid backup in the lungs). Hypertensive crises are a medical emergency and are a leading cause of heart-related emergency department visits. According to the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology joint 2025 High Blood Pressure Guideline , nearly half of U.S. adults have high blood pressure, and it is the number one modifiable risk factor to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and heart failure.
In this study, researchers evaluated whether using AI along with a portable cuff-based blood pressure monitor and wrist-worn fitness tracker could predict a hypertensive crisis before it occurred. The blood pressure monitor collected repeated blood measurements throughout the day and night, including during daily activities and sleep. The AI tool then analyzed wearers’ blood pressure patterns throughout the day and night, as well as cardiovascular signals from the wearable fitness tracker, including heart rate and heart rate variability. An alert was issued if the AI model predicted the wearer was at risk of having a hypertensive crisis. The alert prompted the physician to contact the patient, review their symptoms and adjust their medication if needed.
What are the study’s main findings?
“These findings suggest that continuous blood pressure monitoring can help detect these blood pressure changes earlier, which may give patients and healthcare professionals more time to act before it turns into an emergency,” Chaudhry said. “If we are able to recognize an increased risk of a hypertensive crisis days before it occurs, we have an opportunity to provide earlier care to help reduce the risk of the serious complications that can occur with a hypertensive crisis.”
“For decades, hypertension management has relied heavily on blood pressure measurements captured at a single point in time, yet many patients have no warning symptoms before a serious complication develops,” said Maria Delgado-Lelievre, M.D., a distinguished Hypertension Specialist at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine and a member of the American Heart Association’s National Hispanic Latino Cardiovascular Collaborative leadership team. “As technology continues to evolve, tools that provide greater insight into blood pressure patterns between office visits may help support more personalized care and encourage earlier discussions about treatment, healthy lifestyle changes and medication adherence. Studies like this highlight the growing potential for digital health technologies to complement, not replace, clinical decision-making when caring for people with hypertension.”
Study details, background, design and limitations:
More research is needed to guide clinical responses to high-risk alerts, including confirming blood pressure, reviewing symptoms and medication adherence, contacting the patient, considering medication adjustment, and determining when urgent or emergency evaluation is needed. A 2025 American Heart Association scientific statement on cuffless devices highlighted that more research and standardized testing are needed before these devices, technologies and analyses are used to guide patient care. The Association recommends an automatic, cuff-style, upper arm (biceps) monitor. Wrist and finger monitors are not recommended because they give less reliable readings. A list of validated blood pressure devices is available at validatebp.org .
Co-authors, disclosures and funding sources are listed in the abstract.
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