There are about 89 clinical studies being (or have been) conducted in Uruguay. The country of the clinical trial is determined by the location of where the clinical research is being studied. Most studies are often held in multiple locations & countries.
The proportion of hypertensive patients achieving adequate blood pressure control meeting guideline targets remains low. Of those patients on blood pressure lowering drugs, only 50% reach control. Objectives: 1. Test the feasibility of telemonitoring of blood pressure in uncontrolled hypertensive patients. 2. Investigate whether telemonitoring enabled self-measurement of blood pressure leads to faster blood pressure control than self-measurement without telemonitoring. 3. Secondary endpoints include adverse effects, assessment of quality of life, adherence, a log of technical problems, and cost-effectiveness. Methods: Randomised parallel-group study consisting of 4 stages. - Screening to check for eligibility. - Randomisation in a 1:1 proportion to control or experimental arm: In the control arm, doctors will receive reports on the self-measured blood pressure based on diary cards; in the experimental group, doctors will receive weekly reports via telemonitoring. - Treatment period: Doctors will adjust treatment according to the present guidelines of Hypertension. Blood pressure control is a home blood pressure below 135 mm Hg systolic and 85 mm Hg diastolic. Once blood pressure control is achieved the treatment period ends. - Late follow-up: Assessment of blood pressure control at home 3 months after completion of the treatment period by means of telemonitoring. Sample size: 120 patients per group. Patients: recruited at clinics from Uruguay and Argentina. Main Inclusion Criteria: - Women and men, age range 20 to 80 years. - Uncontrolled hypertension and new diagnosed hypertension with a self-measured blood pressure at home of 135 mm Hg systolic and/or 85 mm Hg diastolic or more; - Patients should be willing to accept adherence checking during follow-up and sign an informed written consent. Exclusion Criteria - Patients emotionally or intellectually not capable of measuring their blood pressure at home; - A clinical or social context, which is suboptimal for the self-measurement of blood pressure; - Pregnancy; - Alcohol or substance abuse or psychiatric illnesses; - Participation in another study. Expected outcomes: blood pressure control will be achieved faster in the telemonitoring group.