Ps-c08-4: tec4homebp: developing a home blood pressure tele-monitoring pathway to support patients discharged from the emergency department with elevated blood pressure

Objectives: Elevated blood pressure (BP) in the emergency department (ED) is common, but clinical uncertainty exists on how best to manage asymptomatic hypertension. Telehealth for Emergency-Community Continuity of Care Connectivity via Home Blood Pressure Telemonitoring (TEC4Home BP) evaluates how home blood pressure telemonitoring (HBPTM) can support patients with elevated BP manage their health at home after visiting the ED. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of HBPTM on BP control among those discharged home from the ED with severely elevated BP. We also examined adherence to HBPTM, medical therapy and patient satisfaction. Methods: We conducted a prospective, single-centre, observational study and recruited 50 participants from Vancouver General Hospital (VGH), ED with hypertensive urgency, asymptomatic severely uncontrolled BP (> 160/100 mm Hg averaged over 3 readings) or referred to the VGH Hypertension Clinic from the ED for high BP. All participants received a validated home BP monitor (A&D UA-651BLE) and App (Sphygmo App, Calgary, AB) to automatically teletransmit 2 readings in the morning and evening daily for 3 months. Proportion of patients diagnosed with hypertension with controlled home BP defined as less than 135/85 mmHg, adherence to HBPTM, and medication therapy using the Hill Bone medication adherence scale, at 1and 3 months following discharge from the ED. Results: From May to December 2021, 50 participants (60 years old, 61% females, average baseline BP (SD) in ED 191 +/−26/ 99 +/−15 mm Hg) were recruited. Our recruitment and enrollment rate were 41% and 88%, respectively. At 1 and 3 months, average home BP (SD) was 136 +/−15/80 +/−11 and 128 +/−10 /77 +/−10 mm Hg. At 3 months, there was a 66% improvement in proportion of those who achieved target BP control. Adherence to HBPTM at 1 and 3 months was 84 and 54%, respectively. There were no differences in medication adherence at baseline and 3 months of study. Participants were highly satisfied with the HBPTM program and 79% would highly recommend the program. More detailed data analysis is currently underway and will be presented. Conclusions: HBPTM is a feasible, effective, and acceptable strategy to triage and monitor patients with significantly elevated BP when discharged from the ED. Future studies are need to advise the integration of HBPTM pathway a key clinical strategy to improve patient flow in the ED, reduce length of stay in the ED, and improve BP control in patients with hypertension.