Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the U.S. and a significant driver of high claims costs for state retirement systems such as the Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS). Recognizing the opportunity to improve heart health outcomes and decrease costs, ERS partnered with Hello Heart to support its members, which include over 500,000 public servants, retirees, and their spouses and dependents.
To celebrate the launch of Hello Heart for ERS members, Hello Heart co-founder and CEO Maayan Cohen joined the ERS Walk & Talk Podcast, hosted by Lacy Wolff, Coordinator for Statewide Well-Being Initiatives at ERS. In her role, Lacy directs high-impact health programs that benefit ERS members and communities across the state of Texas.
Key Takeaways from the episode:
- Discover how Maayan built Hello Heart into the leading digital health company focused on preventing avoidable heart disease.
- Meet Jimmy Ramos, who lowered his blood pressure and whose doctor identified a critical arrhythmia after seeing his Hello Heart data and running diagnostic tests.
- Learn how the program works to track heart health, offer personalized coaching, and provide notifications for proactive heart management.
- Hear updates on new and upcoming Hello Heart features, including heart health management tools for menopause and pregnancy.
Tune in and listen to the podcast here to learn more about the future of heart health.
1. Gazit T, Gutman M, Beatty AL. Assessment of Hypertension Control Among Adults Participating in a Mobile Technology Blood Pressure Self-management Program. JAMA Netw Open. 2021;4(10):e2127008, https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.27008. Accessed October 19, 2022. (Some study authors are employed by Hello Heart. Because of the observational nature of the study, causal conclusions cannot be made. See additional important study limitations in the publication. This study showed that 108 participants with baseline blood pressure over 140/90 who had been enrolled in the program for 3 years and had application activity during weeks 148-163 were able to reduce their blood pressure by 21 mmHg using the Hello Heart program.) (2) Livongo Health, Inc. Form S-1 Registration Statement. https:/www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1639225/000119312519185159/d731249ds1.htm. Published June 28, 2019. Accessed October 19, 2022. (In a pilot study that lasted six weeks, individuals starting with a blood pressure of greater than 140/90 mmHg, on average, had a 10 mmHG reduction.) NOTE: This comparison is not based on a head-to-head study, and the difference in results may be due in part to different study protocols.
2. Validation Institute. 2021 Validation Report (Valid Through October 2022). https://validationinstitute.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Hello_Heart-Savings-2021- Final.pdf. Published October 2021. Accessed October 19, 2022. (This analysis was commissioned by Hello Heart, which provided a summary report of self-fundedemployer client medical claims data for 203 Hello Heart users and 200 non-users from 2017-2020. Findings have not been subjected to peer review.)
