SELF-RECORDING OF BLOOD-PRESSURE IN MANAGEMENT OF HYPERTENSION

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 119  (9) , 1034-+
Abstract
The efficacy of self-recording of blood pressure in the management of hypertension was assessed in a randomized clinical trial involving 140 persons who were receiving antihypertensive therapy for 1 yr or more, but whose diastolic blood pressure had remained at 95 mm Hg or higher. To control for the increased attention implicit in self-recording, which might affect blood pressure, the patients were assigned at random to 1 of 4 groups: self-recording and monthly home visits, self-recording only, monthly home visits only, and neither self-recording nor monthly home visits. This design also permitted assessment of the effect of home visits. During the 6 mo. experiment no significant differences were apparent between the groups in either compliance or diastolic blood pressure. Self-recording and monthly home visits produced a reduction in blood pressure among patients who admitted to difficulty remembering to take their pills; a reduction was not seen among patients who said they had no such difficulty. This confirmed an earlier observation suggesting that this easily identified group of patients may be the most responsive to intervention programs.