Abstract P223: Hypertension Telemonitoring And Protocolized Case Management For Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Home blood pressure (BP) telemonitoring combined with case management leads can reduce BP in adults with hypertension. However, the benefits of telemonitoring and case management for hypertension are not well established in older (age >= 65 years) adults. Interventions that can safely improve BP control in this distinct group will be critically important, particularly given recent trials showing cardiovascular benefits of intensive BP lowering in this group, and their increased vulnerability to over-treatment-related side effects. Methods: Twelve-month, open-label, randomized controlled trial of community-dwelling older adults comparing home BP telemonitoring (HBPM) with pharmacist-led case management versus enhanced usual care with HBPM alone. The primary outcome was the proportion achieving age-specific systolic BP targets on 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM). Changes in HBPM were also examined. Logistic and linear regression were used for analyses, with adjustment for baseline BP. Results: Subjects randomized to intervention (n = 61) and control (n = 59) groups were mostly female (77%), with mean age of 79.5 years. The adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for ABPM BP target achievement was 1.48 (95% CI 0.87-2.52, p = 0.15). At 12 months, the mean difference in BP changes between intervention and control groups was -1.6/-1.1 for ABPM (p-value 0.26 for systolic and 0.10 for diastolic BP), and -4.9/-3.1 for HBPM (p-value 0.04 for systolic BP and 0.01 for diastolic BP), favoring the intervention. Intervention group subjects had a higher rate of systolic BP < 110 (21% vs 5%, p = 0.009), but no differences in orthostatic symptoms, syncope, non-mechanical falls, or ED visits. Adherence to HBPM declined by 12 months, with 65% of trial-completers providing all 4 of the study-driven 3-monthly HBPM series. Conclusions: Home BP telemonitoring and pharmacist case management did not improve achievement of target range ambulatory BP, but did reduce home BP. It was not associated with major adverse consequences. Further trials will be necessary to refine HBPM interventions, improve adherence, and determine effectiveness in older individuals more conclusively.