Home blood pressure monitor use in patients with chronic kidney disease

Strategies to prevent, diagnose and treat kidney disease related to systemic arterial hypertension: a narrative review from the Mexican Group of Experts on Arterial Hypertension

This narrative review highlights strategies proposed by the Mexican Group of Experts on Arterial Hypertension endorsed to prevent, diagnose, and treat chronic kidney disease (CKD) related to systemic arterial hypertension (SAH). Given the growing prevalence of CKD in Mexico and Latin America caused by SAH, there is a need for context-specific approaches to address the effects of SAH, given the diverse population and unique challenges faced by the region. This narrative review provides clinical strategies for healthcare providers on preventing, diagnosing, and treating kidney disease related to SAH, focusing on primary prevention, early detection, evidence-based diagnostic approaches, and selecting pharmacological treatments. Key-strategies are focused on six fundamental areas: 1) Strategies to mitigate kidney disease in SAH, 2) early detection of CKD in SAH, 3) diagnosis and monitoring of SAH, 4) blood pressure targets in patients living with CKD, 5) hypertensive treatment in patients with CKD and 6) diuretics and Non-Steroidal Mineralocorticoid Receptor Inhibitors in Patients with CKD. This review aims to provide relevant strategies for the Mexican and Latin American clinical context, highlight the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to managing SAH, and the role of community-based programs in improving the quality of life for affected individuals. This position paper seeks to contribute to reducing the burden of SAH-related CKD and its complications in Mexico and Latin America.

Assessing the routine-practice gap for home blood pressure monitoring among Chinese adults with hypertension

Background

Home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) is recommended for diagnosis, treatment adjustment and management of most hypertension cases in hypertension guidelines from multiple countries. This study aimed to evaluate HBPM behaviour and explore the routine-practice gap in HBPM among Chinese adults with hypertension.

Methods

Data were collected from 20 communities across three cities and six townships in three provinces (Beijing, Shandong and Jiangsu) in China between October 2014 and November 2014. In total, 2272 patients with hypertension aged ≥35 years that were registered with a primary health station in their local communities were selected by simple random sampling.

Results

Among the 2272 participants, 45.3% owned a home blood pressure (BP) monitor. In addition, 27.5% (625/2272) engaged in HBPM weekly or more frequently. Healthcare providers’ advice was the strongest factor contributing to home BP monitor ownership and weekly HBPM behaviour, with odds ratios of 13.50 and 8.97, respectively. Approximately 4.4% of participants had achieved optimal HBPM regimens (duplicate measurements in the morning and evening for 7 days). Patients with uncontrolled office-measured BP were more likely to conduct HBPM regularly in the morning and evening, measure their BP two or three times in each session and maintain 7 consecutive days of HBPM than patients with controlled office BP (8.8% vs. 5.8%, P = 0.042; 14.3% vs. 8.1%, P = 0.002; and 19.9% vs. 12.4%, P = 0.005, respectively). Only 16.0% (165/1030) of participants actively reported their HBPM readings to doctors.

Conclusion

The HBPM strategies specified in hypertension guidelines are seldom achieved in actual practice in China. Only a small proportion of patients actively participate in using HBPM to enhance their hypertension care. HBPM may be improved by healthcare providers offering specific advice and training.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-020-09901-0.

Factors Associated With Physician Recommendation of Home Blood Pressure Monitoring and Blood Pressure in the US Population

BACKGROUND

Hypertension guidelines recommend home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) to help achieve blood pressure (BP) control. We hypothesized that HBPM use with a physician recommendation would be associated with lower BP and greater medication adherence.

METHODS

We used data from 6,320 adults with hypertension in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009-2014 to characterize the association of (i) provider recommendation for HBPM and (ii) HBPM use on 2 outcomes: measured BP (linear regression) and medication adherence (logistic regression). Provider recommendation, HBPM use, and medication use were self-reported.

RESULTS

Among adults with hypertension, 30.1% reported a physician recommendation for HBPM, among whom 82.0% reported using HBPM. Among those who did not report a physician recommendation for HBPM, 28.3% used HBPM. Factors associated with a physician recommendation were having health insurance, higher education attainment, hypertension awareness, and having a prescription for antihypertensive medication. Among those who reported receiving a physician recommendation, those who used HBPM had a mean BP that was 3.1/4.5 mm Hg lower than those who did not. Those who reported having a physician recommendation and using HBPM were more likely to report hypertension medication adherence (odds ratio 2.9; 95% confidence interval: 2.0, 4.4).

CONCLUSIONS

HBPM use was associated with lower BP and higher medication adherence. Use of HBPM was higher among those with a physician recommendation. These results support a role for physicians in counseling and partnering with patients on HBPM use for BP management.

Primary health care decision making in pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease

OBJECTIVES

This qualitative descriptive study explored the primary health care decisions of a group of 12 Australians in Stages 3B to 5 with chronic kidney disease in the preservation of kidney health.

METHODS

Questioning within the qualitative interviews focused on gaining an understanding of the participants' perceptions of their kidney health and the decisions made as a consequence of their interaction within the Australian primary health care system.

RESULTS

Participants were dependent on their General Practitioner to recognise their symptoms, make the correct diagnosis and authorise the correct referral for specialist nephrology care. Three pathways in this process were identified: 'easy'; 'difficult' and 'protracted'. Clinician failure to correctly attribute symptoms to chronic kidney disease influenced the 'difficult' pathway, while failure to adequately communicate kidney health status influenced the 'protracted' pathway. Use of the language of 'recovery', 'stability' and 'protection' held meaning to the participants in gaining an understanding of their kidney health.

DISCUSSION

Identifying pathways to diagnosis and referral can raise awareness of the challenges kidney health consumers face in their participation within the primary health care arena. Using consumer meaningful language improves the capacity of these consumers to engage in their own primary health care agenda.