SELF-MEASUREMENT OF BLOOD-PRESSURE IN GER MANY - RESULTS OF A SURVEY IN SPRING EARLY SUMMER 1993

Self-measurement of blood pressure in Germany: Results of a survey in spring/early summer 1993. The cardiovascular hotline Heidelberg establ ished in April 1992 provides data concerning self-measurement of blood pressure in Germany. For this purpose 277 hypertensives were question ed from April 15 to July 15, 1993. The evaluation showed that only 17% of hypertensives practiced home recording of blood pressure on recomm endation of their physicians. Only 22% were trained in the technique b y qualified personnel and only every second hypertensive was adequatel y controlled in handling the device. 60% of patients on home recording stated that this method enabled them to better cope with their diseas e. This percentage did not increase since the 1987 pilot study in the Hamburg area. It could, however, be confirmed that only approximately 10% of hypertensives were unsuited for home recording. These results i ndicate that there is a considerable lack of information about the ben efit of self-monitoring of high blood pressure to improve patient comp liance. In conclusion it was confirmed that self-measurement of blood pressure is not yet accepted by physicians as a possible and desirable method to optimize high blood pressure treatment.