Assessing the Utility of a Novel SMS- and Phone-Based System for Blood Pressure Control in Hypertensive Patients: Feasibility Study

• DOI: 10.2196/cardio.7915
• Publication Date: 2017-08-15T12:36:51Z
• Authors: Robert Mattson Pe...; Nishkala Shivakumar; Ran Xu; Kavon Javaherian; Eric Sink; Kunjan Patel; Angela Brown; Justin Huynh; Melvin Blanchard; Will Ross; Jonathan Byrd
• Keywords: Original Paper; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; 3. Good health

Although hypertension (HTN) is a major modifiable risk factor for arterial damage, blood pressure (BP) remains poorly controlled in the hypertensive population. Telemedicine promising adjunct intervention that may complement traditional therapies and improve adherence rates; however, current approaches have multiple barriers to entry, including use of relatively expensive Bluetooth devices or dependence on smart phone utilization, which tend exclude low-income more elderly populations.The aim this study was design implement new call- short message service text messaging-based intervention, Epharmix's EpxHypertension, quality improvement project demonstrates feasibility system BP control family medicine setting.We recruited 174 patients from community clinic St Louis database diagnosed with HTN. An automated call messaging used monitor patient-reported BPs. If determined be elevated, physicians were notified by an email, text, electronic medical record alert. Mean systolic BPs (SBPs) diastolic (DBPs) compared at beginning end 12 weeks.After weeks system, baseline SBP 140 mm Hg higher reduced 10.8 (95% CI -14.5 -7.2, P<.001) DBP 6.6 -9.9 -3.4, P=.002), but no significant changes observed overall group less than Hg.EpxHypertension provides viable means HTN high despite previous therapy. This implementation implementing EpxHypertension across primary care setting without need smartphones Bluetooth-linked cuffs. Future studies should evaluate its effectiveness randomized trial standard care.