Telemedicine and hypertension

• Objective: To review telemedicine approaches for management of hypertension. • Methods: Review of studies that illustrate the use of telemedicine in hypertension and discussion of an ongoing clinical trial, the Take Control of Your Blood Pressure study, an example of a telemedicine intervention to improve blood pressure control. • Results: Hypertension places a significant burden on patients and health care systems; less than one third of patients on medication for hypertension have adequate blood pressure control. The adequate management of hypertension requires a potential complex interaction between patients, their social support, providers, and the health care system. Applications of medical informatics may facilitate the management of hypertension. • Conclusion: Although the number of controlled trials examining telecommunication-based interventions of hypertension remains small, there are examples where informatics applications may have a demonstrated clinical value.

Duke Scholars

Author Hayden Barry Bosworth Population Health Sciences

Author Eugene Zaverio Oddone Medicine, General Internal Medicine