A study published by the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology concluded that remote patient monitoring improves adherence in postpartum patients with high blood pressure.
Remote patient monitoring (RPM) can be a valuable tool for patients who typically struggle to make in-person appointments with their medical team. According to a recent study published by the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, RPM can yield benefits for postpartum patients with high blood pressure.
This randomized trial looked at 213 postpartum women with hypertension: 104 in the study group and 112 in the control group. The participants in the study group were given an RPM device, specifically a blood pressure cuff that transmits readings to off-site nurses via Bluetooth. The control group went for in-person appointments.
Researchers found that those in the study group were more likely to adhere to the recommended guidelines for measuring blood pressure. The study noted that “There was a significant difference in adherence, with a median of 63.9% of recommended measurements reported per patient in the RPM group and 0% in the usual care group.”
As a result of this adherence, the study group had more medication adjustments and readmissions for high blood pressure than the control group. In other words, using the RPM device enabled them to get the help they needed.
Patient adherence is a key factor in effective medical treatment. Unfortunately, as a study in the BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth article pointed out, less than half of all postpartum patients follow up with their doctor when an in-person appointment is needed. Because of this, it’s critical that practitioners embrace convenient, practical tools like RPM.
RPM can be a helpful tool for new parents, especially, as they cope with having a newborn while healing from birth. It’s essential to make it as easy as possible for postpartum patients to track their health and communicate with their healthcare practitioners.
The study in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology concluded that “RPM is a feasible way to improve adherence to BP monitoring in the PP period, and may improve detection of patients who require further evaluation and management.”
This research does not stand alone when it comes to demonstrating the benefits of RPM for hypertensive postpartum patients. An article published in BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth looked at patient perceptions of RPM for postpartum hypertension monitoring. The study showed that 91% of participants recommended RPM for monitoring blood pressure. Additionally, 84% of participants noted that they were “very or extremely satisfied with the equipment.”
In the postpartum healing stage, it’s important that healthcare does not become inaccessible or stressful for the patients. The available research demonstrates that RPM can be both convenient and beneficial for hypertensive postpartum patients. Given that about 10% of pregnancies are affected by hypertensive disorders, it’s essential that more healthcare practitioners and medical bodies consider using RPM for patients.
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