Home-based Monitoring System Shows Marked Improvement in Hypertension Management

A new home-based hypertension program helped dramatically reduce hypertension in a study population over just 7 weeks.

Results for the prospective pilot cohort study published in Clinical Cardiology looked at population of 130 patients with uncontrolled hypertension (>140/90 mm Hg). Patients received a Bluetooth-enabled blood pressure-monitoring device and were instructed on how to use it. Patients were to measure blood pressure twice daily. Home BP was automatically transmitted to an electronic medical record, and medication adjustments were performed over the phone at biweekly intervals until blood pressure was controlled at <135/85 mm Hg).

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The study results showed that 81% of the enrolled participants, and 91% of patients who measured home blood pressure regularly, achieved their blood pressure goal in an average time of seven weeks. The benefit was seen across all patient races, genders, and ages.

“This is a striking result, especially given the very short time frame in which control was reached,” said corresponding author Naomi Fisher, MD, director of the Hypertension Service and Hypertension Specialty Clinic at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, in a press release. “There are a few notable health care systems that have matched or exceeded this control rate, but most clinical practices do not approach this rate of success.”

It's not even 2019 yet and my prediction is already coming true. #pharmacists monitoring hypertension remotely using blue tooth enabled devices. https://t.co/dUmXjnHHNK pic.twitter.com/zCrCPnS2mC

— David Berkowitz (@dberkpharmd) December 31, 2018

In the paper, the researchers emphasized the need to adapt to modern trends in monitoring, and to adjust care-delivery models to take advantage of improving monitoring technologies.

Just published! The BWH CV Innovation HTN program: Development of an Entirely Remote, Non‐Physician Led Hypertension Management Program – Fisher – – Clinical Cardiology – https://t.co/tfu55qSeZh

— Christopher Cannon, M.D. 🇺🇦 (@cpcannon) December 29, 2018

“The time-honored model of treating hypertension via traditional visits to the doctor is neither effective nor sustainable,” said Fisher. “Development of innovative solutions to manage hypertension effectively and efficiently, and thus reduce the cardiovascular risk burden in larger populations, is critical. Organizations can and should develop and adopt innovative technologies to create sustainable solutions for the control of hypertension.”

Source: Clinical Cardiology