[Home blood pressure measurement: source of anxiety? Prospective observational study]

Home blood pressure measurement has been widely used for the diagnosis and the follow-up of hypertension. However there are few data concerning its impact on patient's quality of life.

To assess whether home blood pressure measurement provokes anxiety and to check for predictive factors of this side effect.

A prospective study was performed by six general practitioners in Finistère (Brittany). Over four months, fifty patients were included. Twelve patients underwent home blood pressure measurement for the diagnosis and thirty-eight for the follow-up of hypertension. Three home blood pressure measurements were performed every morning and every evening for five days. Within a week, quality of life was evaluated by a phone questionnaire, and again after three months.

The incidence of anxiety was 20% in this series. Urban patients (p = 0.21) and those with high education levels (p = 0.07) tended to be more anxious. Home blood pressure measurements were significantly ower (p < 0.0001) than office blood pressure and 8% of the patients with office high blood pressure had normal home blood pressure. However, anxious patients had significantly higher diastolic home blood pressure than non anxious patients (p = 0.04). In the patients that underwent a second cycle of home blood pressure measurement three months later, anxiety was reduced by 40%.

These preliminary results suggest that home blood pressure measurement causes anxiety in some patients but that this side effect might decrease with time. To confirm these observations, additional studies over longer periods are needed.