Efficiency of Connected Health Telemonitoring Platform for Patients with High Blood Pressure

Abstract

Background: Chronic diseases are expected to double their current incidence in people over 65, before by 2030. Cardiovascular diseases, such as ischemic heart disease and heart failure, are the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in developed countries and high blood pressure is the most prevalent risk factor. Telemedicine collects data, shares information and provides clinical care, education, public health and remote administrative services. Telehealth and specially connected health platforms, have the potential to improve the health care system, reduce costs and increase patient satisfaction. Methods: During 2018, 111 patients with high blood pressure (81 (73%) men and 30 (27%) women with an average age 58,4 years) were selected and followed for 12 months. All patients included in the telemonitoring program, received the Connected Health application on their smartphone and a bluetooth device to measure blood pressure. The application reinforces education about the disease, treatment compliance, blood pressure monitoring and in case of decompensation, generates alarms that trigger a response by the medical team with video consultation. Results: To analyse the difference in blood pressure (systolic and diastolic), we calculate the average of the first (when patients added to the program) and last 30 measurements after the 12-month follow-up. We observed a reduction of 5,7 mmHg (4%) in systolic and 4 mmHg (5%) in diastolic blood pressure (p <0.05). The use of the connected health platform avoided 3,2% of costs (Blood Pressure Holter and outpatient visits) in one year. The patient satisfaction analysed with the Net Promoting Score of the services implicated increased 2.2 points during the study period. Conclusion: A telemonitoring platform for patients with high blood pressure, based on health education, treatment compliance, blood pressure monitoring and early detection of decompensation, improves blood pressure figures, reduce costs and increase patient satisfaction.