A UCLA study released Thursday found that field-based health care programs serving people experiencing homelessness can significantly improve control of high blood pressure.
The study, published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, examined nearly 900 adults experiencing homelessness who were assisted by the UCLA Homeless Healthcare Collaborative between January 2022 and November 2025.
Researchers found that the percentage of patients with controlled blood pressure increased from 35% to 45% during the study period, representing nearly 100 additional people whose hypertension came under control.
“Our findings show that field-based homeless healthcare can improve management of high blood pressure, which is a major cause of death and disability among this population,” lead author Dr. Sae Takada, an assistant professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, said in a statement.
The UCLA Homeless Healthcare Collaborative provides primary and urgent care, mental health services, housing referrals and social services at street encampments and other locations serving people experiencing homelessness.
According to the study, average systolic blood pressure declined from about 146 mmHg at patients’ first visits to about 141 mmHg at their most recent visits. Average diastolic blood pressure fell from about 87 mmHg to 85 mmHg.
Researchers identified patients with hypertension based on diagnoses, prescriptions for blood pressure medication or repeated elevated blood pressure readings.
Takada said researchers previously did not know whether homeless health care programs could effectively improve management of chronic diseases.
“Health systems across the U.S. are investing in such programs with the goal of improving the health of their communities,” she said. “Our study shows that these programs can make a clinically significant impact on the health of people experiencing homelessness.”
Researchers noted several limitations, including the lack of a comparison group and incomplete information about patients who may have received care through other health systems.
Future research will compare outcomes for patients treated by the collaborative with similar people experiencing homelessness who did not receive services through the program, researchers said.