The use of a telematic connection for the follow-up of hypertensive patients improves the cardiovascular prognosis

BACKGROUNDInadequate blood pressure (BP) control could be due to incorrect management of hypertensives caused by the lack of interaction between general practitioners (GP) and hypertension specialists. OBJECTIVESTo test the effectiveness on BP and total cardiovascular risk (TCVR) control of an internet-based digital network connecting specialists and GPs. METHODSWe created a network among the Hypertension Clinic, Federico II University (Naples, Italy), 23 hospital-based hypertension clinics and 60 GPs from the area (CampaniaSalute Network, CS). Randomized GPs enrolled in CS could update online records of patients (n = 1979). As a control, we included 2045 patients referred to the specialist clinics by GPs from outside the network. All patients completed a 2-year follow-up. RESULTSCS provided a larger reduction in BP [systolic/diastolic BP (SBP/DBP)7.3 ± 0.4/5.4 ± 0.3 versus 4.1 ± 0.4/3.1 ± 0.26 mmHg, CS versus control; P < 0.001 for both] and percentage of patients with BP < 140/90 mmHg (CS versus controlbaseline, 33 versus 34%, NS; end of follow-up, 51 versus 47%, χ = 13.371; P < 0.001). A European Society of Hypertension–European Society of Cardiology (ESH/ESC) TCVR score was calculated [from 1 (average) to 5 (very high TCVR)]. The CS group showed a reduction in the mean TCVR score (CSfrom 3.5 ± 0.02 to 3.2 ± 0, P < 0.01, ANOVA; control group3.5 ± 0.03 to 3.4 ± 0.03, NS) and, accordingly, fatal and non-fatal major cardiovascular events (MACE) were less frequent (2.9 versus 4.3%; χ = 5.047, P < 0.02). CS predicts fewer MACE in multiple binary regression analysis (β:−7.27, P < 0.008) reducing the risk for MACE compared to control [odds ratio (OR)0.838; 95% confidence interval (CI)0.73–0.96]. CONCLUSIONOur results support the idea that telemedicine can achieve better control of BP and TCVR.