A recent study observed a reduction in hypertension and cardiac events for patients receiving remote blood pressure monitoring and regular telehealth visits with a pharmacist as compared to patients treated with usual care. The cluster-randomized trial took place across 16 primary care clinics and included 450 patients, with patients in the telehealth intervention group taking blood pressure readings at least six times per week and speaking by phone with a pharmacist every other week. The frequency of calls was lessened as patients gained control over their blood pressure. While the difference in patient outcomes was not statistically significant, the results suggest that such interventions with remote patient monitoring and regular communication may improve patient health and be cost-saving in the long term.
A study published this week in the American Heart Association journal Hypertension found that 12 months of pharmacist-managed home blood pressure telemonitoring and pharmacist management lowered hypertension for two years.
“Heart attacks and strokes halved using pharmacist-led home blood pressure telemonitoring,” HealthcareITNews
Researchers also observed that study participants enrolled in telemonitoring were about half as likely to have a heart attack or stroke as those receiving usual primary care.
Read more at HealthcareITNews and see the study in Hypertension.
