Over a 12-week period, enrolled patients at Northumbria Primary Care took part in the trial by using Holly Health's digital coaching service at home.

The intuitive app provides intelligent AI-powered coaching, habit reminders, education, and in-the-moment support to encourage regular actions for blood pressure and mood management, which empower individuals and improve self-management abilities.

The Innovate UK-backed research project is being carried out to address the challenges posed by the comorbidity, but also to highlight the transformative potential of digital health tools in enhancing self-management, reducing NHS costs, and improving national health outcomes.

After using Holly Health for 12 weeks, 64% of patients found the service useful, 69% said they benefited from the service and 92% found it acceptable as a digital health intervention. The app has helped improve participant's lifestyle by reducing alcohol intake, inspiring them to join a gym and prompting better behaviours/habits.

Dr Justine Norman, clinical director for quality and research at Northumbria Primary Care, said: ‘The response from patients to take part in the research has been really encouraging. Now, we're looking ahead to the study which has concluded this month and analysing the outcomes which will form a bigger six-month trial to measure the longer-term impact for our patients.'

Daniela Beivide, chief science officer at Holly Health, added: ‘If successful, there is huge potential to efficiently and cost-effectively scale the service for large populations to reduce strain on NHS services and create significant change in the economy of the country.

‘We're proud to be part of this cutting-edge approach where digital health companies and the NHS can partner to research and implement solutions at low cost and an accelerated pace.'