Key result
Although 95.9% of surveyed physicians in Asia recommend home blood pressure monitoring, only 22.4% cited diagnostic thresholds consistent with guidelines.
Why the study?
Uncontrolled hypertension is a significant problem in Asia, and experts conceptualized a large-scale survey to examine the current realities of home blood pressure monitoring.
Cross-Sectional (n=7,945)
Yes
Despite high recommendation rates for home blood pressure monitoring among Asian physicians, there are significant gaps in guideline-concordant knowledge regarding diagnostic thresholds and medication timing.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
May warrant targeted education on home BP thresholds for Asian physicians; leaves open whether interventions improve guideline concordance.
Uncontrolled hypertension is a significant problem in many parts of Asia. Effective management is essential to reduce the burden of hypertension. Home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) is a promising tool that can aid in the diagnosis and management of hypertension. Experts from 11 countries/regions in Asia conceptualized a large-scale survey to examine the current realities of HBPM. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among health care professionals from China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam between November 2019 and June 2021. Physicians' responses were summarized using descriptive statistics. A total of 7945 physicians participated in the survey. Among all respondents, 50.3% and 33.5% viewed HBPM as highly recognized by physicians and patients in their country/region, respectively. Lack of understanding of HBPM and concern with the accuracy and reliability of HBPM devices were identified as key barriers to HBPM recognition. Nearly all physicians (95.9%) reported recommending HBPM to their patients; however, they reported less than 50% of their patients measured home blood pressure (HBP). Among physicians who recommended HBPM, only 22.4% and 54.1% cited HBP diagnostic threshold values and timing of taking antihypertensive drugs that were consistent with available guidelines, respectively. The survey reveals that the recognition of HBPM as a valuable tool to diagnose and manage hypertension is suboptimal in most parts of Asia. Despite high recommendation of HBPM to hypertensive patients by physicians, there are considerable discrepancies between guidelines recommendations and practice realities. The recognition of HBPM as a valuable tool for the diagnosis and management of hypertension is suboptimal among both physicians and patients in Asia. A clear and consistent guidance for proper HBPM practice and use of validated and calibrated HBP monitors are among the top priorities to support the integration of HBPM into daily patient care. HBPM: home blood pressure monitoring, HBP: home blood pressure.
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Wang et al. (2023) conducted a cross-sectional in Hypertension (n=7,945). Home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) practices was evaluated on Physician recognition, recommendation rates, and knowledge of HBPM guidelines. Although 95.9% of surveyed physicians in Asia recommend home blood pressure monitoring, only 22.4% cited diagnostic thresholds consistent with guidelines.
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