title: Health-related quality of life (SF-36) during telemonitoring of home blood pressure in hypertensive patients: a randomized, controlled study.
abstract: Telemonitoring of home blood pressure (BP) is a new advance in home BP monitoring (HBPM) and has proved effective in improving BP control. The impact of telemedical HBPM on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) has not yet been studied. The purpose of this study is to compare HRQOL using a generic scale (SF-36) in patients with antihypertensive treatment based on telemedical HBPM and in patients with antihypertensive treatment based on conventional monitoring of office BP. Hypertensive patients (n = 223) recruited by general practitioners participated in the study. In the intervention group, antihypertensive treatment was based on telemedical HBPM. In the control group, patients (n = 118) received usual care with office visits to monitor BP. After 6 months, participants filled out SF-36 questionnaires. Patients in the telemonitoring group (T) had higher mean scores in the bodily pain domain than patients in the control group (C), indicating less pain and interference with activities among telemonitored patients [T: 85.3(20.2), C: 78.3(26.4), p = 0.026)]. Patients were more likely to feel their general health had worsened during the last year if antihypertensive treatment was based on conventional office measurements. In the bodily pain domain and health transition scale, scores were slightly better among telemonitored patients compared with control patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Research, Holstebro Hospital and Aarhus University, Denmark. libma@ringamt.dk
authors.forename: Line B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Madsen
authors.forename: Peder
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kirkegaard
authors.forename: Erling B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Pedersen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010824:Physicians' Offices; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods; D013686:Telemetry / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents