Implementing Home Blood Pressure Monitoring into Clinical Practice.

Overview

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To review data supporting the use of home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) and provide practical guidance to clinicians wishing to incorporate HBPM into their practice. RECENT FINDINGS: HBPM more accurately reflects the risk of cardiovascular events than office blood pressure measurement. In addition, there is high-quality evidence that HBPM combined with clinical support improves blood pressure control. Therefore, HBPM is increasingly recommended by guidelines to confirm the diagnosis of hypertension and evaluate the efficacy of blood pressure-lowering medications. Nevertheless, HBPM use remains low due to barriers from the patient, clinician, and healthcare system level. Understanding these barriers is crucial for developing strategies to effectively implement HBPM into routine clinical practice. HBPM is a valuable adjunct to office blood pressure measurement for diagnosing hypertension and guiding antihypertensive therapy. Following recommended best practices can facilitate the successful implementation of HBPM and impact how hypertension is managed in the primary care setting.