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Effect of antihypertensive treatment on office and self-measured blood pressure: the Autodil study

M J Leeman1, R L Lins, J E Sternon

  • 1Hypertension Clinic, Erasme University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium. marc.leeman@ulb.ac.be

Journal of Human Hypertension
|August 30, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Antihypertensive therapy with diltiazem effectively lowered both office and home blood pressure (BP). Home BP measurements may exceed office readings in hypertensive patients, particularly at higher BP ranges.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular medicine
  • Hypertension management
  • Pharmacotherapy

Background:

  • Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
  • Accurate blood pressure (BP) monitoring is crucial for effective hypertension management.
  • Comparing office BP with home BP measurements provides valuable insights into treatment efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To prospectively evaluate the impact of antihypertensive therapy on both office and home blood pressure (BP) readings.
  • To assess the effectiveness of sustained-release diltiazem in a large hypertensive population managed by general practitioners.

Main Methods:

  • 760 hypertensive patients (aged 18-75) with specific BP criteria underwent home BP monitoring using an automated device.
  • Office BP was recorded by general practitioners, with measurements taken before and after 8 weeks of diltiazem 300 mg daily.
  • Home BP was measured twice daily for 8 days prior to and during the treatment period.

Main Results:

  • Sustained-release diltiazem significantly reduced systolic and diastolic office and home BP, as well as heart rate (P < 0.01).
  • Office BP readings were higher than home BP before treatment but not during treatment.
  • Correlation between office and home BP improved during treatment, though discrepancies were noted across BP ranges.

Conclusions:

  • Home BP monitoring can reveal higher readings than office BP, especially in hypertensive individuals with elevated BP.
  • Diltiazem is effective in lowering both office and home BP in hypertensive patients.
  • The study highlights the importance of considering home BP measurements in hypertension management.
Abstract

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