Corresponding author Mark J. Pletcher, MD, MPH, UCSF professor of epidemiology and biostatistics, said: “We think this study is important because it provides real-world answers. real for doctors and patients.
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If left unchecked, hypertension can lead to heart attack and stroke, but less than half of patients have this condition under control. Studies show that uncontrolled blood pressure contributes to half a million deaths annually in the United States. However, when patients search online to buy a monitoring device, they can be overwhelmed by options: Hundreds of devices, ranging in price from about $25 to $100, are available online. or in stores.
The most effective home blood pressure monitoring
In the new study, researchers compared the effectiveness of the two devices in lowering blood pressure when used by patients from more than 20 medical centers across the country.
The researchers randomly mailed a basic device or a common Bluetooth-enabled device to more than 2,000 patients with high blood pressure, of whom about a third identified as black or Hispanic. Dental. To reproduce real-world circumstances, the researchers did not seek to influence how doctors manage patients or how patients use devices.
“There’s been a lot of research showing that with home monitoring, the more support and grip you have, the better blood pressure control results you get. But most of these programs are really hard. and expensive to implement,” Pletcher said. “We think commercially available technology could help by providing patients with reminders to check their blood pressure, as well as the ability to visualize and understand the data.”
After six months, patients who received the basal cuff had their blood pressure reduced by 10.6 mmHg, and those who received the smartphone app had their blood pressure reduced by 10.8 mmHg, according to blood pressure readings. Pressure is taken at doctor’s visits and recorded in the Electronic Health Record.
There was no statistically significant difference in the improvement patients saw or their satisfaction with the devices.
The racial and ethnic diversity of the study is important because the disproportionate management of hypertension plays an important role in the disproportionate impact cardiovascular disease has on the Black community. . In patients of self-reported race and ethnicity, research shows that newer technology is not superior to baseline cuffs.
The findings allow doctors to confidently advise their patients to purchase and use whatever blood pressure monitoring device they like best, the authors report. Patients who prefer to save money or avoid the hassle of connecting devices will not limit their potential health benefits.
“There is a cost issue with Bluetooth devices, and the time and effort involved in connecting them to a smartphone really isn’t trivial. As it turns out, there doesn’t seem to be any benefit. for any of that,” Pletcher said. “What seems important is engagement and support from healthcare providers.”
The team is continuing to explore whether the technology can help doctors engage patients with their hypertension. One area of particular focus is the smartwatch-style display that continuously monitors blood pressure without the wearer’s manipulation.
Source: Eurekalert
