BMJ  2005;331 (3 September), doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7515.0-d

Hypertension can be monitored by patients

Patients with hypertension can monitor their blood pressure at least as well as doctors and nurses. McManus and colleagues (p 493) randomised 441 people in eight general practices in south Birmingham to the self monitoring intervention or usual practice. After one year, no differences in systolic or diastolic blood pressure, anxiety, health behaviours, or number of prescribed drugs were found between the groups, and patients who self monitored lost more weight, rated self monitoring better than being monitored by a doctor or a nurse, and consulted less often. More than 90% of all patients attended follow up at one year.

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Relevant Article

Targets and self monitoring in hypertension: randomised controlled trial and cost effectiveness analysis

R J McManus, J Mant, A Roalfe, R A Oakes, S Bryan, H M Pattison, and F D R Hobbs
BMJ 2005 331: 493. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]