Home-Test Program Helps Cut Blood Pressure

Tracking blood pressure at home and having a pharmacist adjust medicines can improve blood pressure control, a new study finds. The study included 450 adults with blood pressure that was hard to control. They were randomly divided into 2 groups. People in 1 group received a home blood pressure monitor. They talked with a pharmacist about how to use it. They also got advice on how to lower blood pressure with diet, exercise and other lifestyle changes. Then they regularly took blood pressure readings for 6 months. The monitor transmitted results to a pharmacist, who adjusted medicines if needed. The second group just received usual care from their doctors. After 6 months, nearly 72% of those in the home testing group had their blood pressure under control, compared with 45% in the usual-care group. The program stopped, but researchers kept track of people through the 1-year mark.