Home Blood Pressure Monitoring in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Hypertension: A Systematic Review

• Published in: American journal of hypertension Vol. 24; no. 2; pp. 123 - 134
• Main Authors: Stergiou, George S., Bliziotis, Ioannis A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basingstoke Oxford University Press 01.02.2011; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Antihypertensive Agents - economics; Antihypertensive Agents - therapeutic use; Arterial hypertension. Arterial hypotension; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Blood Pressure - drug effects; Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory - economics; Cardiology. Vascular system; Clinical manifestations. Epidemiology. Investigative techniques. Etiology; Cost Control; Health Care Costs; Humans; Hypertension - diagnosis; Hypertension - drug therapy; Hypertension - economics; Hypertension - physiopathology; Medical sciences; Medication Adherence; Predictive Value of Tests; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; blood pressure; self-measurement; treatment; masked hypertension; diagnosis; home blood pressure; white-coat hypertension; hypertension; Hypertension; Treatment; Cardiovascular disease; Arterial pressure; Blood pressure; Diagnosis; Caucasoid; Monitoring
• ISSN: 0895-7061; 1879-1905; 1941-7225
• DOI: 10.1038/ajh.2010.194

Background It is recognized that for the reliable assessment of blood pressure (BP) and the accurate diagnosis of hypertension, out-of-office BP measurement with ambulatory (ABPM) or home BP monitoring (HBPM) is often required. The clinical usefulness of ABPM is well established. However, despite the wide use of HBPM, only in the last decade convincing evidence on its usefulness has accumulated. Methods Systematic review of the evidence on applying HBPM in the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension (PubMed, Cochrane Library, 1970-2010). Results Sixteen studies in untreated and treated subjects assessed the diagnostic ability of HBPM by taking ABPM as reference. Seven randomized studies compared HBPM vs. office measurements or ABPM for treatment adjustment, whereas many studies compared HBPM with office measurements in assessing the antihypertensive drug effects. Several studies with different design investigated the role of HBPM vs. office measurements in improving patients' compliance with treatment and hypertension control rates. The evidence on the cost-effectiveness of HBPM is limited. The studies reviewed consistently showed moderate diagnostic agreement between HBPM and ABPM, and superiority of HBPM compared to office measurements in diagnosing uncontrolled hypertension, assessing antihypertensive drug effects and improving patients' compliance and hypertension control. Preliminary evidence suggests that HBPM has the potential for cost savings. Conclusions There is conclusive evidence that HBPM is useful for the initial diagnosis and the long-term follow-up of treated hypertension. These data are useful for the optimal application of HBPM, which is widely used in clinical practice. More studies on the costeffectiveness of HBPM are needed. American Journal of Hypertension, advance online publication 9 September 2010; doi:10.1038/ajh.2010.194