Self Measurement of Blood Pressure for Control of Blood Pressure Levels and Adherence to Treatment

Background: The measurement of blood pressure (BP) by the patient himself without strict protocols, adequate training, and validated equipment at their own household is defined as self measured blood pressure (SMBP). Objective: To evaluate the interference of the SMBP in treatment adherence and blood pressure control. Methods: The study included 57 patients, 38 in the study group (SG) and 19 in the control group (CG). These patients were followed for 12 months and assessed at randomization (V1) as well as in the sixth (V2) and the twelfth month (V3). Compare the mean blood pressure by casual measurement, by SMBP and by ambulatory monitoring of blood pressure (AMBP), laboratory tests and the answers to the questionnaire on lifestyle. The instruments used were: OMRON HEM 714, for SMBP; OMRON 705 CP, for the casual measurement, and Monitor SPACELABS 9002 for the AMBP. Results: The average age was 62.05 +/- 10.78 in the SG and 55.42 +/- 11.87 in the CG (p = 0.03). The values of systolic blood pressure (SBP) by casual measurement in the SG and CG were: 140.01 +/- 16.73 mmHg and 141.79 +/- 23.21 mmHg in V1 (p = 0.72), 135.49 +/- 12.73 mmHg and 145.69 +/- 19.31 mmHg in V2 (p = 0.02), 131.64 +/- 19.28 mmHg and 134.88 +/- 23.21 mmHg at V3 (p = 0.59). The values of diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were: 84.13 +/- 10.71 mmHg and 86.29 +/- 10.35 mmHg in V1 (p = 0.47), 81.69 +/- 10.88 mmHg and 89.61 V2 +/- 11.58 mmHg (p = 0.02), 80.31 +/- 11.83 mmHg and 86 +/- 13.38 mmHg in V3 (p = 0.12). Conclusion: Patients in the SG had adherence to non-pharmacological treatment similar to the CG, but they had greater adherence to drug treatment and used fewer antihypertensive drugs. There was no difference between groups when comparing the metabolic profile and renal function. (Arq Bras Cardiol 2012; 98(2): 167-174)