Home blood pressure monitoring for pregnant patients with hypertension.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether automated measurement of blood pressure and pulse in a home setting can be easily accomplished by pregnant women with chronic hypertension.


METHODS
In this prospective investigation, seven women with chronic hypertension complicating pregnancy recorded their blood pressure at home twice a day. These data were offloaded once daily into a computer at a remote site, and a computerized printout of these data was received by the physician.


RESULTS
The patients participated in the study for 12.2 +/- 5.8 weeks (range 4 to 18 weeks) and were between 23 and 42 weeks' gestation. Average mean arterial pressure in the home was 102 +/- 10 mm Hg, and average pulse was 81 +/- 11 beats per minute. In the clinic, the values were 112 +/- 13 mm Hg and 90 +/- 30 beats per minute (p < 0.05). Each patient was easily taught how to use the machine.


CONCLUSIONS
The home blood pressure monitoring device was easy to use and correlated well with values recorded by health professionals for this limited number of subjects. It was particularly helpful to patients (n = 5) who lived long distances (more than 60 miles) from the clinic and to women who needed adjustments of antihypertensive medication.
Naef
R W
RW
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson 39216-4505, USA.
Perry
K G
KG
Magann
E F
EF
McLaughlin
B N
BN
Chauhan
S P
SP
Morrison
J C
JC
D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011674:Pulse; D012648:Self Care; D017216:Telemedicine