Home Blood Pressure Telemonitoring Research Articles

Report from a text-based blood pressure monitoring prospective cohort trial among postpartum women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

BackgroundHypertensive disorders of pregnancy are a main cause of maternal morbidity and mortality in the United States and worldwide, and it is estimated that approximately 60% of maternal deaths in the United States occur during the postpartum period. The utilization of telehealth modalities such as home blood pressure monitoring has shown improvement in blood pressure control and adherence with follow up visits. Our study sought to determine if standardized education improved patient hypertension knowledge and if this when combined with home blood pressure telemonitoring increased participants’ postpartum self-blood pressure monitoring and postpartum visit attendance.MethodsThis is an Institutional Review Board approved prospective cohort study conducted at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Women with a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy who met the inclusion criteria and provided written informed consent to participate were enrolled. Participants received a baseline pre-education questionnaire designed to assess their knowledge of their hypertensive diagnosis, hypertension management, and postpartum preeclampsia (PreE). Participants then received standard education, a blood pressure monitor, and were scheduled a follow-up visit during the first 10 days following discharge. Remote home blood pressure monitoring was performed via text messages and voice calls for 6-weeks postpartum. At the conclusion of the study, participants repeated their original questionnaire.Results250 women provided informed consent to participate in the study and were included in this analysis. Relative to the baseline survey, there was a significant increase (p = 0.0001) in the percentage of correct responses. There was not an association between study engagement and percentage of correct responses on end of study questionnaire (p = 0.33) or postpartum visit attendance (p = 0.69). Maternal age was found to drive study engagement, even when adjusted for community-level distress (p = 0.03) and maternal race (p = 0.0002).ConclusionImplementing a standardized postpartum education session was associated with improvement in patient’s knowledge. Further studies are needed with more longitudinal follow up to assess if this program would also result in improved long-term outcomes and decreased hospital readmission rates.Trial registrationNCT04570124.

Home blood pressure telemonitoring in the Netherlands: a pilot study in GP practices

BackgroundHome Blood Pressure Telemonitoring (HBPT) has been proposed to improve drug adherence, blood pressure control, and efficient care delivery in patients with hypertension. Its adoption in GP practices however remains low. In this pilot study we evaluated barriers and facilitators for successful implementation, patient satisfaction, clinical effectiveness, and efficiency for a HBPT project in Dutch GP practices by means of the Quadruple Aim Model.MethodsGP practices included patients with hypertension that were part of their regular cardiovascular disease program. We conducted semi-structured interviews at 3- and 6-months to identify barriers and facilitators for successful implementation. Patient satisfaction was measured with Telehealth Usability (TUQ)—and Mhealth App Usability (MAUQ) Questionnaires. A SPRINT-protocol blood pressure measurement was performed after the pilot project to assess clinical effectiveness. Efficiency data were collected on the number of registered consultations and practice measurements performed during the 6-month project.ResultsThree GP practices included 19 patients. Barriers for implementation were a lack of a reimbursement structure, lack of information technology (IT) system integration and increased experienced workload when using HBPT. Facilitators included the positive effects on blood pressure control, increased sense of safety for patient and care provider, and increased disease-insight. Median satisfaction scores for TUQ and MAUQ questionnaires (scale 1–7) were 6 (IQR 5–6) and 6 (IQR 5–7). At baseline, 16% of the patients had a blood pressure < 140/90 mmHg. Based on the performed SPRINT measurements, 68% had a well-controlled blood pressure (< 140/90 mmHg) after 6 months. Average blood pressure improved from 151/89 mmHg to 132/81 mmHg (p = < 0.05). On average, one monthly contact moment related to hypertension between patient and GP practice was registered.ConclusionsWe found positive results following the introduction of HBPT in GP practices on clinical outcomes and patients’ satisfaction, however for large-scale implementation improvements with regards to organizational efficiency and a clear reimbursement structure are needed.

A protocol for digital cardiovascular prevention feasibility study using hybrid home blood pressure telemonitoring system

Aim: The DICAP feasibility study aims to determine chronological blood pressure (BP) control status and BP variability up to the end of life in different life settings in the community and their clinical implications. Methods: A simple, easy-to-use automated hybrid BP telemonitoring system combined cellular and Bluetooth BP monitors, the DICAP (DIgital Cardiovascular Prevention) system, was devised to obtain all the different BP values measured in a time series in different settings in 500 community-dwelling individuals in their homes and local elderly care facilities. Expected results and Perspectives: This study will confirm the feasibility of collecting BP variability over time until the end of life for the management of hypertension in all community-dwelling patients, including those unfamiliar with digital technology and those in diverse residential settings, such as elderly care facilities. This feasibility study has the potential to serve as a basis for future community and disaster medicine initiatives worldwide.

Adding Pharmacist-Led Home Blood Pressure Telemonitoring to Usual Care for Blood Pressure Control: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Health systems have been quickly adopting telemedicine throughout the United States, especially since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there are limited data on whether adding pharmacist-led home blood pressure (BP) telemonitoring to office-based usual care improves BP. We searched PubMed/MEDLINE and Embase for randomized controlled trials from January 2000 until April 2022, comparing studies on pharmacist-led home BP telemonitoring with usual care. Six randomized controlled trials, including 1,550 participants, satisfied the inclusion criteria. There were 774 participants in the pharmacist-led telemonitoring group and 776 in the usual care group. The addition of pharmacist-led telemonitoring to usual care was associated with a significant decrease in systolic BP (mean difference -8.09, 95% confidence interval -11.15 to -5.04, p<0.001, I2=72%) and diastolic BP (mean difference -4.19, 95% confidence interval -5.58 to -2.81, p<0.001, I2=42%) compared with usual care. In conclusion, this meta-analysis showed that adding pharmacist-led home BP telemonitoring to usual care achieves better BP control than usual care alone.

Effect of Home Blood Pressure Telemonitoring Plus Additional Support on Blood Pressure Control: A Randomized Clinical Trial*

ObjectiveCurrent clinical evidence on the effects of home blood pressure telemonitoring (HBPT) on improving blood pressure control comes entirely from developed countries. Thus, we performed this randomized controlled trial to evaluate whether HBPT plus support (patient education and clinician remote hypertension management) improves blood pressure control more than usual care (UC) in the Chinese population. MethodsThis single-center, randomized controlled study was conducted in Beijing, China. Patients aged 30–75 years were eligible for enrolment if they had blood pressure [systolic (SBP) ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic (DBP) ≥ 90 mmHg; or SBP ≥ 130 mmHg and/or DBP ≥ 80 mmHg with diabetes]. We recruited 190 patients randomized to either the HBPT or the UC groups for 12 weeks. The primary endpoints were blood pressure reduction and the proportion of patients achieving the target blood pressure. ResultsTotally, 172 patients completed the study, the HBPT plus support group (n = 84), and the UC group (n = 88). Patients in the plus support group showed a greater reduction in mean ambulatory blood pressure than those in the UC group. The plus support group had a significantly higher proportion of patients who achieved the target blood pressure and maintained a dipper blood pressure pattern at the 12th week of follow-up. Additionally, the patients in the plus support group showed lower blood pressure variability and higher drug adherence than those in the UC group. ConclusionHBPT plus additional support results in greater blood pressure reduction, better blood pressure control, a higher proportion of dipper blood pressure patterns, lower blood pressure variability, and higher drug adherence than UC. The development of telemedicine may be the cornerstone of hypertension management in primary care.

Home Blood Pressure Telemonitoring Technology for Patients With Asymptomatic Elevated Blood Pressure Discharged From the Emergency Department: Pilot Study.

Hypertension affects 1 in 5 Canadians and is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Hypertension control is declining due to multiple factors including lack of access to primary care. Consequently, patients with hypertension frequently visit the emergency department (ED) due to high blood pressure (BP). Telehealth for Emergency-Community Continuity of Care Connectivity via Home-Telemonitoring Blood Pressure is a pilot project that implements and evaluates a comprehensive home blood pressure telemonitoring (HBPT) and physician case management protocol designed as a postdischarge management strategy to support patients with asymptomatic elevated BP as they transition from the ED to home. Our objective was to conduct a feasibility study of an HBPT program for patients with asymptomatic elevated BP discharged from the ED. Patients discharged from an urban, tertiary care hospital ED with asymptomatic elevated BP were recruited in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and provided with HBPT technology for 3 months of monitoring post discharge and referred to specialist hypertension clinics. Participants monitored their BP twice in the morning and evenings and tele-transmitted readings via Bluetooth Sensor each day using an app. A monitoring clinician received these data and monitored the patient's condition daily and adjusted antihypertensive medications. Feasibility outcomes included eligibility, recruitment, adherence to monitoring, and retention rates. Secondary outcomes included proportion of those who were defined as having hypertension post-ED visits, changes in mean BP, overall BP control, medication adherence, changes to antihypertensive medications, quality of life, and end user experience at 3 months. A total of 46 multiethnic patients (mean age 63, SD 17 years, 69%, n=32 women) found to have severe hypertension (mean 191, SD 23/mean 100, SD 14 mm Hg) in the ED were recruited, initiated on HBPT with hypertension specialist physician referral and followed up for 3 months. Eligibility and recruitment rates were 40% (56/139) and 88% (49/56), respectively. The proportion of participants that completed ≥80% of home BP measurements at 1 and 3 months were 67% (31/46) and 41% (19/46), respectively. The proportion of individuals who achieved home systolic BP and diastolic BP control at 3 months was 71.4% (30/42) and 85.7% (36/42) respectively. Mean home systolic and diastolic BP improved by -13/-5 mm Hg after initiation of HBPT to the end of the study. Patients were prescribed 1 additional antihypertensive medication. No differences in medication adherence from enrollment to 3 months were noted. Most patients (76%, 25/33) were highly satisfied with the HBPT program and 76% (25/33) found digital health tools easy to use. HBPT intervention is a feasible postdischarge management strategy and can be beneficial in supporting patients with asymptomatic elevated BP from the ED. A randomized trial is underway to evaluate the efficacy of this intervention on BP control.

Urinary proteomics combined with home blood pressure telemonitoring for health care reform trial-First progress report.

High blood pressure (BP) and type-2 diabetes (T2DM) are forerunners of chronic kidney disease and left ventricular dysfunction. Home BP telemonitoring (HTM) and urinary peptidomic profiling (UPP) are technologies enabling risk stratification and personalized prevention. UPRIGHT-HTM (NCT04299529) is an investigator-initiated, multicenter, open-label, randomized trial with blinded endpoint evaluation designed to assess the efficacy of HTM plus UPP (experimental group) over HTM alone (control group) in guiding treatment in asymptomatic patients, aged 55-75 years, with ≥5 cardiovascular risk factors. From screening onwards, HTM data can be freely accessed by all patients and their caregivers; UPP results are communicated early during follow-up to patients and caregivers in the intervention group, but at trial closure in the control group. From May 2021 until January 2023, 235 patients were screened, of whom 53 were still progressing through the run-in period and 144 were randomized. Both groups had similar characteristics, including average age (62.0 years) and the proportions of African Blacks (81.9%), White Europeans (16.7%), women 56.2%, home (31.2%), and office (50.0%) hypertension, T2DM (36.4%), micro-albuminuria (29.4%), and ECG (9.7%) and echocardiographic (11.5%) left ventricular hypertrophy. Home and office BP were 128.8/79.2mmHg and 137.1/82.7mmHg, respectively, resulting in a prevalence of white-coat, masked and sustained hypertension of 40.3%, 11.1%, and 25.7%. HTM persisted after randomization (48 681 readings up to 15 January 2023). In conclusion, results predominantly from low-resource sub-Saharan centers proved the feasibility of this multi-ethnic trial. The COVID-19 pandemic caused delays and differential recruitment rates across centers.

Management of arterial hypertension: home blood pressure measurement is a cornerstone for telemonitoring and self-management.

The development of mobile telephones has made it possible to design blood pressure (BP) monitors with data transmission via cellular lines, contributing to the emergence of "e-health". Today, the direct-to-consumer marketing of devices create a new context allowing an algorithmic processing of information for remote decision-making either by the patient or by a healthcare professional. The home BP telemonitoring (HBPT) is the remote transmission of BP values, measured at home and transmitted to the doctor's office or hospital, by means of telehealth strategies. In this context, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) studies have demonstrated HBPT ability in improving patients' compliance and adherence to treatment and in accomplishing better hypertension control rates. The level of evidence for the drop in BP is "moderate" and the place of HBPT is not clearly established in current practice. Digital interventions have the potential to support patient in self-management. This approach presupposes the prior acquisition of skills, the level of which must be adapted to the level of health literacy of each patient. Few of medical applications (mobile apps or web-apps) for hypertension can be regarded as accurate and safe for clinical use and to date, we do not have high quality evidence to determine the overall effect of the use smartphone apps on BP control.

Abstract P376: Home Blood Pressure Telemonitoring Linked With Community Health Workers to Improve Blood Pressure: The LINKED-BP Program

Background: Hypertension disparities persist in underserved populations in the United States. Presently, few implementation trials have focused on adults with elevated blood pressure (BP) or untreated stage 1 hypertension. To address this scientific gap, we have developed a pragmatic cluster-randomized controlled trial, the “LINKED-BP Program,” a patient-centered, multi-level intervention linking home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) via a telemonitoring platform (the Sphygmo BP application) that integrates Bluetooth-enabled validated BP devices, support from community health workers, and BP measurement training at primary care practices to improve BP. The LINKED-BP Program is one of the five studies in the RESTORE (Add RE ssing S ocial Determinants TO p R event hyp E rtension) Network, an American Heart Association-funded initiative focused on the prevention of hypertension. The study aims to examine the effect of the LINKED-BP Program on BP reduction, as well as to evaluate the reach, adoption, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness of the intervention. Methods: We are recruiting 600 adults with elevated BP or untreated stage 1 hypertension from 20 primary care practices that provide care to underserved populations in Maryland and Pennsylvania. The practices are randomly assigned to the intervention or the enhanced usual care arm. Patients in the LINKED-BP Program receive training on HBPM with a validated home BP monitor, BP telemonitoring through the Sphygmo app, and community health worker visits for education and counseling on lifestyle modification over 12 months. Data are collected at baseline, 6, 12, and 24 months. The primary clinical outcome is a change from baseline in systolic BP at 6 and 12 months. Discussion: The LINKED-BP Program tests a sustainable, scalable approach to prevent hypertension and advance health equity. The study findings will inform implementation strategies that address social determinants of health and barriers to hypertension prevention in underserved populations.

Randomized Controlled Trial of Home Telemonitoring of Blood Pressure with an Adapted Tensiometer with SMS Capability

Despite being a public health problem, less than a third of hypertensive patients manage to control blood pressure (BP). In this paper, we conducted a two-arm randomized controlled trial to investigate the efficacy of an SMS-based home BP telemonitoring system compared to usual care in patients with uncontrolled hypertension from a primary care center. This study was conducted between April and August 2018. Participants in the intervention arm used a custom-designed telemonitoring device for two weeks and were followed up for two additional weeks; controls were followed for 4 weeks. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the impact on blood pressure of a telemonitoring system using a blood pressure monitor adapted to send data via SMS to health providers in primary care centers for 4 weeks. In this trial, 38 patients were included in the analysis (18 in each arm), 68% were women, and the mean age was 68.1 [SD: 10.8 years], with no differences between arms. Among the results we found was that There was no significant difference in the change in systolic BP values between the control and intervention arm (-7.2 [14.9] mmHg vs. -16.3 [16.7] mmHg; p = 0.09). However, we found a significant difference in the change of diastolic BP (-1.2 [6.4] mmHg vs. -7.2 [9.8] mmHg; for the control and intervention arms, respectively p = 0.03). With all this, we conclude that an SMS-based home BP telemonitoring system is effective in reducing diastolic BP by working in conjunction with primary care centers. Our findings represent one of the first interventions of this type in our environment, being an important alternative for the control of high blood pressure.

PS-C08-4: TEC4HOMEBP: DEVELOPING A HOME BLOOD PRESSURE TELE-MONITORING PATHWAY TO SUPPORT PATIENTS DISCHARGED FROM THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT WITH ELEVATED BLOOD PRESSURE

Objectives: Elevated blood pressure (BP) in the emergency department (ED) is common, but clinical uncertainty exists on how best to manage asymptomatic hypertension. Telehealth for Emergency-Community Continuity of Care Connectivity via Home Blood Pressure Telemonitoring (TEC4Home BP) evaluates how home blood pressure telemonitoring (HBPTM) can support patients with elevated BP manage their health at home after visiting the ED. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of HBPTM on BP control among those discharged home from the ED with severely elevated BP. We also examined adherence to HBPTM, medical therapy and patient satisfaction. Methods: We conducted a prospective, single-centre, observational study and recruited 50 participants from Vancouver General Hospital (VGH), ED with hypertensive urgency, asymptomatic severely uncontrolled BP (&gt; 160/100 mm Hg averaged over 3 readings) or referred to the VGH Hypertension Clinic from the ED for high BP. All participants received a validated home BP monitor (A&amp;D UA-651BLE) and App (Sphygmo App, Calgary, AB) to automatically teletransmit 2 readings in the morning and evening daily for 3 months. Proportion of patients diagnosed with hypertension with controlled home BP defined as less than 135/85 mmHg, adherence to HBPTM, and medication therapy using the Hill Bone medication adherence scale, at 1and 3 months following discharge from the ED. Results: From May to December 2021, 50 participants (60 years old, 61% females, average baseline BP (SD) in ED 191 +/−26/ 99 +/−15 mm Hg) were recruited. Our recruitment and enrollment rate were 41% and 88%, respectively. At 1 and 3 months, average home BP (SD) was 136 +/−15/80 +/−11 and 128 +/−10 /77 +/−10 mm Hg. At 3 months, there was a 66% improvement in proportion of those who achieved target BP control. Adherence to HBPTM at 1 and 3 months was 84 and 54%, respectively. There were no differences in medication adherence at baseline and 3 months of study. Participants were highly satisfied with the HBPTM program and 79% would highly recommend the program. More detailed data analysis is currently underway and will be presented. Conclusions: HBPTM is a feasible, effective, and acceptable strategy to triage and monitor patients with significantly elevated BP when discharged from the ED. Future studies are need to advise the integration of HBPTM pathway a key clinical strategy to improve patient flow in the ED, reduce length of stay in the ED, and improve BP control in patients with hypertension.

Telemonitoring in hypertension management for patients with chronic kidney disease: a narrative review

Hypertension is a major cause of cardiovascular disease worldwide and a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The Systolic Blood pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) demonstrated that blood pressure (BP) measurement techniques may have an impact on the achievement of outcomes. Home BP monitoring (HBPM) has several advantages over office BP recordings, including avoidance of white-coat reaction, ability to diagnose white-coat and masked hypertension, detection of BP variability, and better ability to predict cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, all of which commonly occur in CKD. The addition of telemonitoring and management support to HBPM allows remote monitoring, especially when close contact is difficult (e.g., patients in remote/rural areas, pandemic, natural disaster, or patients treated with home dialysis). Although there are few studies that have assessed the efficacy of home BP telemonitoring (HBPT) in patients with CKD, these studies suggest the benefits of HBPT for BP control and even limited evidence that it may improve kidney function. This review, using limited available evidence, assesses the roles of HBPT in patients with CKD, barriers to HBPT implementation in the care of patients with CKD, and discusses newer technologies that can be leveraged in the management of hypertension in patients with CKD.

Opportunities for improving hypertension control in sub-Saharan Africa.

Hypertension is currently one of the most common risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease. An estimated 46% of the adult population in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has hypertension and its increasing prevalence is associated with factors such as urbanization and adverse lifestyle behavior. The process of managing hypertension in SSA includes increasing screening and diagnosis, and treatment of diagnosed patients. In addition to this process, community-based interventions have also highlighted promotion of educating healthcare providers and building capacity within the health system. Although there seems to be a process in place to control blood pressure of hypertensive individuals in SSA, optimal management of hypertension in this region remains a challenge, and the need for implementation of innovative strategies to achieve optimal BP control in hypertensive individuals remains critical. Various hypertension guidelines recommend the use of out-of-office blood pressure monitoring as a technique to control hypertension. Thus far, several publications have highlighted the potential of implementing the use of home blood pressure telemonitoring (HTM) in general practice, globally. HTM is a telemedicine strategy that is implemented to remotely transmit blood pressure data and additional health information of patients from the comfort of their home to the health practitioner. To date, there is evidence from various controlled trials reporting that prolonged and regular use of HTM is associated with a significant reduction of blood pressure in hypertensive patients compared with usual care. Despite HTM being reported as a potential measure for control of hypertension, there are no known estimates of hypertensive patients being managed using HTM in SSA and there have been few successful HTM programs implemented in SSA. HTM activity is reported in only 4 out of 46 countries in SSA using telephone calls, text messages and mobile phone health applications. In these HTM programs, significant reduction in blood pressure of patients was reported showing the great potential that HTM has in controlling blood pressure of hypertensive patients in SSA.

Proceedings of the 2022 IDACO/IDHOCO/IDCARS/UPRIGHT-HTM Consortium Meeting, 1-3 December 2022, Lamot Congress and Heritage Centre, Mechelen, Belgium Meeting Chairpersons: Kei Asayama and Jan A. Staessen.

Background: Home blood pressure telemonitoring (HTM) is recommended by several guidelines in the management of hypertension with its benefits widely documented. HTM enables patients’ active participation in their management and also assists in the diagnoses of white coat and masked hypertension. The feasibility of HTM in poor resource settings such as in Nigeria is unknown. Aim: To determine the feasibility of HTM in Nigeria Methods: We evaluated HTM among Nigerians recruited under the framework of Urinary Proteomics combined with Home Blood Pressure Telemonitoring for Health Care Reforms trial (UPRIGHT-HTM), a multi-centre global clinical trial involving three centres in Nigeria. Eligible patients, aged 55-75 years old with ≥5 cardiovascular diseases risk factors but asymptomatic were trained to collect HTM data using Bluetooth-enabled automated blood pressure (BP) monitors aided with web-based applications that run on android smartphones. Results: Of the 171 patients screened over a 17-month period (May 2021 to September 2022), 1 (0.6%) withdrew consent, 8 (4.8%) without android smart phones, 3 (1.8%) inconsistent with BP measurement over a 5-week run-in period, and 23 (11.3%) who did not meet the inclusion criteria were excluded from this analysis. Of the 136 subjects randomised, 75 (54.4%) were women, 68 (50.0) were obese and 66 (48.5%) had uncontrolled office BP. The time taken to train subjects on HTM averaged at 8.1±3.4 minutes. So far, 44, 236 BP measurements were taken. Overall, the median annual number of BP measurements in the first and second year were 36 and 127 respectively, with monthly median measurements ranging from 12 in August of the first year to 49 measurements in November of the same year. More than 50% of the subjects measured their BP at least 2 times weekly in all but the first quarter of the first year. The average monthly systolic and diastolic BP in each of the 18 months were less than 135mmHg and 85 mmHg respectively. Conclusion: HTM is feasible in clinical trial settings and thus can be integrated into the routine clinical practice in Nigeria.

The potential of blood pressure telemonitoring: experience in the UK and Japan.

Hypertension is the most important and modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality worldwide, and a growing issue as the global population with hypertension increases (estimated to be 626 million women and 652 million men in 2019, almost double the number in 1990). In addition, global control rates for hypertension remain poor: 23% for women and 18% for men in 2019 (Lancet. 2021:957). Measures to reduce the number of poorly controlled hypertensive patients are urgently needed. Remarkable advances in healthcare technology have changed healthcare delivery dramatically in the last decade with out-of-office blood pressure (BP) telemonitoring being widely used in clinical research (Hypertension. 2020:1368). We have demonstrated the efficacy of BP telemonitoring and digital intervention for the management of hypertension in the Telemonitoring And Self-Management IN the control of Hypertension (TASMINH) trials (Lancet. 2010:163, JAMA. 2014:799, Lancet. 2018:949), the Home and Online Management and Evaluation of Blood Pressure (HOME BP) trial (BMJ. 2021:m4858), and the HERB Digital Hypertension 1(HERB-DH1) pivotal trial (Eur Heart J. 2021:4111). A recent meta-analysis found that home BP telemonitoring improved office systolic BP (SBP) by 3.99 mmHg and home BP telemonitoring plus additional support (e.g., counselling and medications management) also showed a reduction of office SBP by 2.44 mmHg versus home BP telemonitoring alone (J Hum Hypertens. 2017:427). This evidence suggests that BP telemonitoring is an optimal tool for reducing BP levels and that combining BP telemonitoring and co-interventions would be the most effective approach for the management of hypertension. There are additional benefits from BP telemonitoring system in clinical practice, including assessment of accurate and reliable out-of-office BP data, and ease of BP measurement and recording by patients without the need for manual systems. Furthermore, such systems can reduce nonadherence of antihypertensive medications and clinical inertia, both of which contribute to a treatment-resistant hypertension (J Hypertens. 2017:2346, J Hypertens. 2021:1238). In practical terms, telemonitoring also facilitates optimal BP management for patients living in geographically remote or poorly medically resourced areas (Hypertension. 2021:1927). In this session, through discussion of the evidence base and clinical experience in the UK and Japan, we will examine the prospects of BP telemonitoring systems for the future management of hypertension. We will examine how BP telemonitoring systems are used and affect BP control in both clinical trials and subsequent implementation. In addition, by comparing such work in the UK and Japan, we will assess the potential of BP telemonitoring systems as a solution to the inadequate BP control status worldwide.

Differentiated Effects and Determinants of Home Blood Pressure Telemonitoring: Three-Year Cohort Study in Jieshou, Anhui, China.

BackgroundHome blood pressure telemonitoring (HBPT) is witnessing rapid diffusion worldwide. Contemporary studies documented mainly short-term (6-12 months) effects of HBPT, and there are limited data about its uptake.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to explore the 3-year use and determinants of HBPT, and the interactions with systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP) and overall blood pressure (BP) control rate.MethodsHBPT records were obtained from a 3-year cohort of 5658 patients with hypertension in Jieshou, Anhui, China, and data from a structured household survey of a random sample (n=3005) of the cohort. The data analysis comprised (1) timeline trajectories of the rates of monthly active HBPT and mean SBP/DBP for overall and subgroups of patients with varied start-month SBP/DBP; and (2) multivariable linear, logistic, and percentile regression analyses using SBP/DBP, BP control rate, and yearly times of HBPT as the dependent variable, respectively.ResultsHBPT was followed by mixed changes in mean monthly SBP/DBP for varied patient groups. The magnitude of changes ranged from –43 to +39 mmHg for SBP and from –27 to +15 mmHg for DBP. The monthly rates of active HBPT all exhibited a rapid and then gradually slower decline. When controlled for commonly reported confounders, times of HBPT in the last year were found to have decreasing correlation coefficients for SBP/DBP (from 0.16 to –0.35 and from 0.11 to –0.35, respectively) and for BP control rate (from 0.53 to –0.62).ConclusionsHBPT had major and “target-converging” effects on SBP/DBP. The magnitude of changes was much greater than commonly reported. BP, variation in BP, and time were the most important determinants of HBPT uptake. Age, education, duration of hypertension, family history, and diagnosis of hypertension complications were also linked to the uptake but at weaker strength. There is a clear need for differentiated thinking over the application and assessment of HBPT, and for identifying and correcting/leveraging potential outdated/new opportunities or beliefs.

Automatic transmission of home blood pressure data can be effective in managing hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Home blood pressure telemonitoring (HBPT) is a useful way to manage BP. Recent advances in digital technology to automatically transmit BP data without the patient input may change the approach to long-term BP treatment and follow-up. The purpose of this review is to summarize the latest data on the HBPT with automatic data transmission. Articles in English from 1980 to 2021 were searched by electronic databases. Randomized controlled trials comparing HBPT with automatic data transmission with usual BP management and including systolic BP (SBP) and/or diastolic BP (DBP) as outcomes in hypertension patients were included in the systematic review. A meta-analysis was conducted. After removing duplicates, 474 papers were included and 23 papers were identified. The HBPT with automatic data transmission had a significant beneficial impact on BP reduction (mean difference for office SBP -6.0 mm Hg; P < 0.001). Subgroup analyses showed that the studies using smartphone applications reduced BP significantly more in the intervention group than in the control group (standardized mean difference for office and home SBP -0.25; P = 0.01) as did the studies using HBPT other than the applications. Longer observation periods showed a sustained effect, and multidisciplinary cooperation was effective. This review suggests that a care path based on HBPT with automatic data transmission can be more effective than classical management of hypertension. In particular, the studies using smartphone applications have shown beneficial effects. The results support the deployment of digital cardiology in the field of hypertension management.

Abstract P223: Hypertension Telemonitoring And Protocolized Case Management For Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Home blood pressure (BP) telemonitoring combined with case management leads can reduce BP in adults with hypertension. However, the benefits of telemonitoring and case management for hypertension are not well established in older (age &gt;= 65 years) adults. Interventions that can safely improve BP control in this distinct group will be critically important, particularly given recent trials showing cardiovascular benefits of intensive BP lowering in this group, and their increased vulnerability to over-treatment-related side effects. Methods: Twelve-month, open-label, randomized controlled trial of community-dwelling older adults comparing home BP telemonitoring (HBPM) with pharmacist-led case management versus enhanced usual care with HBPM alone. The primary outcome was the proportion achieving age-specific systolic BP targets on 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM). Changes in HBPM were also examined. Logistic and linear regression were used for analyses, with adjustment for baseline BP. Results: Subjects randomized to intervention (n = 61) and control (n = 59) groups were mostly female (77%), with mean age of 79.5 years. The adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for ABPM BP target achievement was 1.48 (95% CI 0.87-2.52, p = 0.15). At 12 months, the mean difference in BP changes between intervention and control groups was -1.6/-1.1 for ABPM (p-value 0.26 for systolic and 0.10 for diastolic BP), and -4.9/-3.1 for HBPM (p-value 0.04 for systolic BP and 0.01 for diastolic BP), favoring the intervention. Intervention group subjects had a higher rate of systolic BP &lt; 110 (21% vs 5%, p = 0.009), but no differences in orthostatic symptoms, syncope, non-mechanical falls, or ED visits. Adherence to HBPM declined by 12 months, with 65% of trial-completers providing all 4 of the study-driven 3-monthly HBPM series. Conclusions: Home BP telemonitoring and pharmacist case management did not improve achievement of target range ambulatory BP, but did reduce home BP. It was not associated with major adverse consequences. Further trials will be necessary to refine HBPM interventions, improve adherence, and determine effectiveness in older individuals more conclusively.

An Integrated Community-Based Blood Pressure Telemonitoring Program - A Population-Based Observational Study.

Home blood pressure telemonitoring (BPT) has been shown to improve blood pressure control. A community-based BPT program (the Health+ program) was launched in 2015 in an urban area around a medical center. To examine the impact of the BPT program on the use of medical resources. We conducted a retrospective propensity-score (PS)-matched observational cohort study using the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) 2013-2016 in Taiwan. A total of 9,546 adults with a high risk of cardiovascular disease participated in the integrated BPT program, and 19,082 PS-matched controls were identified from the NHIRD. The primary and secondary outcome measures were changes in 1-year emergency department visit rate, hospitalization rate, duration of hospital stay, and healthcare costs. The number of emergency department visits in the Health+ group significantly reduced (0.8 to 0.6 per year vs. 0.8 to 0.9 per year, p < 0.0001) along with a significant decrease in hospitalization rate (43.7% to 21.3% vs. 42.7% to 35.3%, p < 0.001). The duration of hospital stay was also lower in the Health+ group (4.3 to 3.3 days vs. 5.3 to 6.5 days, p < 0.0001). The annual healthcare costs decreased more in the Health+ group (USD 1642 to 1169 vs. 1466 to 1393 per year, p < 0.001), compared with the controls. Subgroup analysis of the Health+ group revealed that the improvements in outcomes were significantly greater among those who were younger and had fewer comorbidities, especially without diabetes or hypertension. A community-based integrated BPT program may improve patients' health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.

Telemonitoring and protocolized case management for hypertensive community dwelling older adults (TECHNOMED): a randomized controlled trial.

Home blood pressure (BP) telemonitoring combined with case management leads to BP reductions in individuals with hypertension. However, its benefits are less clear in older (age ≥ 65 years) adults. Twelve-month, open-label, randomized trial of community-dwelling older adults comparing the combination of home BP telemonitoring (HBPM) and pharmacist-led case management, vs. enhanced usual care with HBPM alone. The primary outcome was the proportion achieving systolic BP targets on 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM). Changes in HBPM were also examined. Logistic and linear regressions were used for analyses, adjusted for baseline BP. Enrollment was stopped early due to coronavirus disease 2019. Participants randomized to intervention (n = 61) and control (n = 59) groups were mostly female (77%), with mean age 79.5 years. The adjusted odds ratio for ABPM BP target achievement was 1.48 (95% confidence interval 0.87-2.52, P = 0.15). At 12 months, the mean difference in BP changes between intervention and control groups was -1.6/-1.1 for ABPM (P-value 0.26 for systolic BP and 0.10 for diastolic BP), and -4.9/-3.1 for HBPM (P-value 0.04 for systolic BP and 0.01 for diastolic BP), favoring the intervention. Intervention group participants had hypotension (systolic BP < 110) more frequently (21% vs. 5%, P = 0.009), but no differences in orthostatic symptoms, syncope, non-mechanical falls, or emergency department visits. Home BP telemonitoring and pharmacist case management did not improve achievement of target range ambulatory BP, but did reduce home BP. It did not result in major adverse consequences.