Mam. Rogers et al., Home monitoring service improves mean arterial pressure in patients with essential hypertension - A randomized, controlled trial, ANN INT MED, 134(11), 2001, pp. 1024-1032
Citations number
16
Categorie Soggetti
General & Internal Medicine","Medical Research General Topics
Background: Technological advances in the distribution of information have
opened new avenues for patient care. Few trials, however, have used telemed
icine to improve blood pressure in patients with essential hypertension.
Objective: To determine the efficacy of a telecommunication service in redu
cing blood pressure.
Design: Randomized, controlled trial.
Setting: University-affiliate primary care outpatient clinics.
Patients: 121 adults with essential hypertension who were under evaluation
for a change in antihypertensive therapy.
Intervention: A home service consisting of automatic transmission of blood
pressure data over telephone lines, computerized conversion of the informat
ion into report forms, and weekly electronic transmission of the report for
ms to physicians and patients.
Measurements: 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring at baseline and
exit. The primary end point was change in mean arterial pressure from basel
ine to exit.
Results: Mean arterial pressure decreased by 2.8 mm Hg in patients receivin
g the home service and increased by 1.3 mm Hg in patients receiving usual c
are (P = 0.013 for the difference). Mean diastolic blood pressure decreased
by 2.0 mm Hg for home service but increased by 2.1 mm Hg for usual care (P
= 0.012 for the difference). Mean systolic blood pressure decreased by 4.9
mm Hg for home service and 0.1 mm Hg for patients receiving usual care (P
= 0.047 for the difference). Among African-American patients, mean arterial
pressure decreased by 9.6 mm Hg in those receiving home service and increa
sed by 5.25 mm Hg in those receiving usual care (P = 0.047). Part of the de
crease in blood pressure for home service was due to more frequent changes
in the type or dose of antihypertensive medications.
Conclusion: This telecommunication service was efficacious in reducing the
mean arterial pressure of patients with established essential hypertension.