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Telemonitoring of home blood pressure (BP) is a new advance in home BP monitoring (HBPM) and has proved effective in improving BP control. The impact of telemedical HBPM on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) has not yet been studied. The purpose of this study is to compare HRQOL using a generic scale (SF-36) in patients with antihypertensive treatment based on telemedical HBPM and in patients with antihypertensive treatment based on conventional monitoring of office BP. Hypertensive patients (n = 223) recruited by general practitioners participated in the study. In the intervention group, antihypertensive treatment was based on telemedical HBPM. In the control group, patients (n = 118) received usual care with office visits to monitor BP. After 6 months, participants filled out SF-36 questionnaires. Patients in the telemonitoring group (T) had higher mean scores in the bodily pain domain than patients in the control group (C), indicating less pain and interference with activities among telemonitored patients [T: 85.3(20.2), C: 78.3(26.4), p = 0.026)]. Patients were more likely to feel their general health had worsened during the last year if antihypertensive treatment was based on conventional office measurements. In the bodily pain domain and health transition scale, scores were slightly better among telemonitored patients compared with control patients.

To compare the effectiveness of antihypertensive treatment based on telemonitoring of home blood pressure (BP) and conventional monitoring of office BP.Hypertensive patients (n = 236) participated in a randomized, controlled study. In the intervention group, antihypertensive treatment was based on home BP monitoring. BP readings were registered by a PDA and automatically transmitted to a server, by which the patient and doctor could communicate. In the control group, patients received usual care with office visits to adjust antihypertensive treatment as needed. Primary outcome was difference in systolic daytime ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) change between baseline and 6 months.In both groups, systolic daytime ABPM decreased significantly from baseline to follow-up. The decrease in systolic daytime ABPM was -11.9 mmHg in the intervention group and -9.6 mmHg in the control group (mean difference -2.3 [95% CI -6.1 to -1.5], p = 0.225). The likelihood of daytime ABPM normalization was similar in the two groups [32/113 (28%) vs 46/123 (37%), p = 0.139].Antihypertensive treatment based on telemonitoring of home BP was as effective as usual monitoring of office BP with regards to reduction of BP.