How Remote Cardiac Monitoring Can Help Manage Hypertension

According to the CDC, hypertension, or high blood pressure, affects nearly half of all adults in the U.S. With a national annual expenditure of $91.4 billion, it’s also one of the most costly conditions to treat. It is also a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, which are leading causes of death in the U.S.

There are a number of additional health threats that can come from uncontrolled blood pressure. These include vision loss, kidney disease, and sexual dysfunction. Fortunately, hypertension is one of the most common chronic conditions that can be managed with Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM).

Remote Cardiac Monitoring is an Opportunity for Modernization

Given the current state of hypertension care, cardiologists and other healthcare providers are missing an incredible opportunity to prevent devastating diseases through better control of blood pressure. If a patient receives a blood pressure cuff, they are often burdened with either handwritten journaling of their blood pressure measurements or storing information on their phone to bring to their next appointment.

Meanwhile, providers are also in the dark about how their patients are doing between clinic appointments without any idea who’s blood pressure is well controlled and who would benefit from more support.

On the other hand, with remote blood pressure monitoring, providers can see trends over time. They can also be alerted to acute blood pressure readings in virtually real-time. Healthcare providers can then contact patients who may be approaching hypertensive crises. Additionally, providers can gain a sense of when to engage with patients who may benefit from long-term management of blood pressure.

Clinical Studies Show Benefits of Controlled Blood Pressure

According to a study published by the NIH in the U.S. National Library of Medicine, improving control of blood pressure drastically improves cardiovascular risk – 20-25 percent for heart attack, 35-40 percent for stroke, and 50 percent for heart failure.

When a patient’s blood pressure is monitored on a regular, daily basis, this allows care teams to create and modify treatment plans that support heart-healthy lifestyles. More proactive management of high blood pressure can also help ensure patients who take blood pressure medications are using them correctly. This may even lead to a decrease in required medication if a patient’s blood pressure can be controlled through monitoring.

Learn More About RPM

Optimize Health’s RPM system is easy to use, is designed to support improved clinical outcomes, and can be highly profitable with minimal upfront risk. To learn more, simply request a demo and find out how Optimize Health can help you establish a successful RPM program.