The Role of Home Blood Pressure Monitoring in Hypertension Control

Conclusion

Despite readily available tools to achieve widespread hypertension control, this condition remains woefully undertreated, placing large numbers of individuals at risk for cardiovascular sequelae. Increased use of evidence-based approaches to hypertension treatment and the development of focused-care management programs that encourage collaborative care have the potential to vastly improve control rates. Hypertension control is a Health Plan Employer Data & Information Set quality goal for the year 2001. The pressure brought to bear by this level of scrutiny is another powerful reason to re-examine, update, and improve our treatment strategies for patients with hypertension. Home monitoring, lifestyle counseling, and appropriate medication management, particularly in the context of a systematized, evidence-based approach to long-term control, constitute a powerful tool for successful hypertension management and improved health outcomes for the hypertensive population.

The authors would like to acknowledge and thank Robert F. DeBusk, MD, Director of Stanford Cardiac Rehabilitation Program, for his assistance in editing this report.

© 2001 Le Jacq Communications, Inc.

Cite this: The Role of Home Blood Pressure Monitoring in Hypertension Control - Medscape - May 01, 2001.