The application of blood pressure self-measurements in the management of hypertension in elderly patients in the community / 中华老年医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To compare the effects of different methods of blood pressure management in elderly hypertensive patients in the community,so as to explore the effective model for the management of chronic diseases.Methods 302 elderly hypertensive patients in Puhuangyu community health service center were divided into two groups by random number method:(1) receiving conventional antihypertensive drugs (control group,n=152);(2) receiving antihypertensive drugs combined with blood pressure self-measurements at least twice-weekly and real-time adjusting antihypertensive management (blood pressure self-measurements group,n =150).Medication adherence,levels of blood pressure control and blood pressure-targeting rate were compared between groups one year after intervention.Results Medication adherence rate was higher in self-measurements group than in the control group [94.7％ (142 cases) vs.75.7％ (115 cases),P＜ 0.05].After intervention,systolic pressure was decreased from (168.5±37.7) mmHg to (155.3±25.2) mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) in the control group and from (168.0±38.1)mmHg to (141.7 ±22.9) mmHg in self-measurements group (all P＜0.05).Diastolic pressure level was similar in the two groups.There was a significant difference in the blood pressure-targeting rate between groups (P ＜0.05).Conclusions Blood pressure self-measurements are more effective in controlling blood pressure and can improve the self-management ability in elderly patients with chronic diseases in the community.