Improved blood pressure control with a physician-nurse team and home blood pressure measurement.
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether a physician-nurse team model could improve long-term hypertension control rates by active intervention and modification of antihypertensive drug regimens based on home blood pressure (BP) measurements.


METHODS
This study consisted of patients referred to a hypertension specialty clinic between July 1999 and June 2002 for the evaluation and management of uncontrolled hypertension. Patients were evaluated initially by a physician. A treatment plan was designed and implemented subsequently by a hypertension nurse specialist. Each patient was given an automated digital home BP monitor and requested to provide 42 BP readings taken during 7 days at intervals of 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after dismissal from the clinic. The mean of these weekly values was reviewed by the physician-nurse team, and the treatment regimen was adjusted to achieve a goal BP of less than 135/85 mm Hg.


RESULTS
One hundred six consecutively referred patients were enrolled in the study (mean+/-SD age, 64+/-14 years; 58% female; baseline BP, 156+/-16/85+/-11 mm Hg). Ninety-four patients submitted BP data after 1 month, and 78 patients completed the entire 12-month study period. Overall, mean BP decreased to 138+/-17/78+/-8 mm Hg at 1 month and to 131+/-9/75+/-7 mm Hg at 12 months (P<.01 vs baseline). The percentage of patients who achieved BP control to less than 135/85 mm Hg increased from 0% at baseline to 63% at 12 months. Intensification of antihypertensive drug therapy was required, on average, in 24% of patients at each study interval. The mean number of drugs increased from 1.2 at baseline to 2.0 at 12 months (P<.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The use of home BP measurement by a physician-nurse team has the potential to significantly improve long-term hypertension control rates in a geographically dispersed patient population. This model should reduce both cost and inconvenience associated with the treatment of hypertension.
Canzanello
Vincent J
VJ
Department of Internal Medicine and Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minn 55905, USA. canzanello.vincent@mayo.edu
Jensen
Patricia L
PL
Schwartz
Lora L
LL
Worra
Joel B
JB
Klein
Lois K
LK
D001795:Blood Pressure Determination / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team; D019555:Physician-Nurse Relations; D012648:Self Care; D016896:Treatment Outcome