AHA Endorses At Home Monitoring
A recent statement from the American Heart Association (AHA) endorses utilization of home monitoring for patients with high blood pressure. The respected non profit was joined in the endorsement by the Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses’ Association and the American Society of Hypertension. The recommendations were published by the group in the medical journal Hypertension.
The new guidelines suggest that all patients with hypertension should monitor their blood pressure regularly, taking readings two to three times a day at the same time daily. Routine checks every few months in the doctor’s office or even at a local pharmacy is simply not sufficient. Blood pressure can vary throughout the day and one snapshot of patient’s blood pressure is limited in its utility.
The most accurate method to monitor patient’s blood pressure is with regular monitoring at home. The group also recommended that insurance companies should reimburse patients who purchase an appropriate device. Automated blood pressure cuffs are recommended. Patients should also take devices to the doctor’s office to compare results from the different systems.
Regular monitoring would allow clinicians the opportunity to monitor how patients respond to various medication regimens. Patient blood pressure is often elevated when patient’s are seen in the doctor’s office from nervousness. The proposed approach is analogous to the daily blood sugar monitoring that diabetics require to maintain appropriate glucose levels.
This is one of the first times that a medical device has received such a massive endorsement. There has been some question about the endorsement. The AHA receives substantial funding from one manufacturer of an at home blood pressure cuff for sponsoring its website, as described in a report from the AP.
May 27, 2008 Related topics: Monitoring, Diagnostic, Cardiology