JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Remote patient monitoring (RPM) programs show increasing efficacy in mitigating chronic disease, including hypertension.

Objective:

Assessing the impact of a team-based remote patient monitoring service on patients with hypertension and multiple chronic conditions (MCC) - ischemic heart disease and hypertension, type 2 diabetes and hypertension, or all three.

Methods:

EHR data was collected from patients referred to UC San Diego Health’s Digital Health program who had hypertension and either ischemic heart disease, type 2 diabetes, or all three concurrently, , Patients were referred by their PCP between October 2020 and July 2022, and were provided with a Bluetooth-enabled blood pressure (BP) monitor and care management team as part of the program. A semi-parametric event study was used to analyze BP changes among patients with hypertension, with or without co-occurring ischemic heart disease and/or type 2 diabetes.

Results:

Average reduction in systolic BP was 9.70 mmHg (SE 0.8) for referred patients with hypertension, 6.61 mmHg (SE 1.12) for those with hypertension and either diabetes or ischemic heart disease, and 6.60 mmHg (SE 1.72) for those with all three conditions. Reductions in SBP among actively participating patients were 13.98 mmHg, 11.79 mmHg, and 14.05 mmHg, respectively, across the 3 groups.

Conclusions:

EHR-integrated RPM service improved BP for patients with hypertension and MCC. With widespread EHR adoption, health systems can successfully implement virtual care programs using EHR-integrated RPM solutions.