D2-2: How Did Pharmacists Help Patients Achieve Blood Pressure Control in a Randomized Trial of Home Blood Pressure Telemonitoring Plus Pharmacist Management?

Abstract

Background/AimsThe Hyperlink trial tested a 12-month intervention combining home blood pressure (BP) telemonitoring with pharmacist case management in patients with uncontrolled hypertension. The intervention resulted in improved BP control compared to usual care at both 6 and 12 months (57% vs. 30%, P = 0.001). The mean number of medication classes increased compared to usual care (0.63 vs. 0.22, P 80%) in only about half of patients, but at subsequent phone visits in >90% of patients. The mean home BP recorded by the pharmacists for patients at the first phone visit was 136/80, and fell steadily to a mean of 126/74 at 3 months, and thereafter declined more slowly to 123/73 at 5 months, with little change thereafter.ConclusionsImproved adherence and appropriate adjustments to the antihypertensive treatment regimen based on home BP telemonitoring resulted in rapid lowering of BP over a 3-month period. Our results imply that intensive intervention may only be needed for about 3 months in many patients with uncontrolled hypertension.