1. ¹Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Tohoku University Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Medicine, Sendai, Japan
2. ²Department of Planning for Drug Development and Clinical Evaluation, Tohoku University Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sendai, Japan
3. ³Tohoku University 21st Century COE Program 'Comprehensive Research and Education Center for Planning of Drug Development and Clinical Evaluation', Sendai, Japan
4. ⁴Department of Medical Genetics, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan

Correspondence: Dr T Ohkubo, Department of Planning for Drug Development and Clinical Evaluation, Tohoku University Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University Hospital, Sendai 980-8574, Japan. E-mail: tohkubo@mail.tains.tohoku.ac.jp

⁵See Appendix.

Received 26 June 2007; Revised 23 October 2007; Accepted 19 November 2007; Published online 3 January 2008.

Abstract

The usefulness of self-measurements of blood pressure (BP) at home (home BP measurements) in hypertensive patients has been reported by many studies. Several national guidelines recommend the use of home BP measurements to achieve better hypertension control. The objective of this study was to clarify the association between home BP measurements and hypertension treatment among 2363 essential hypertensive patients taking antihypertensive drugs. Compared to the 543 (23.0%) patients who had not taken home BP measurements, the 1820 (77.0%) patients who had taken home BP measurements were significantly older, included a higher proportion of males, included a higher proportion with a family history of hypertension, took a greater number of antihypertensive drugs and alpha blockers and took antihypertensive drugs more often in the evening. Home BP measurements were associated with significantly better control of home and office BP levels. Compared to patients who had not taken home BP measurements, the adjusted odds ratios for good control of morning home BPs, evening home BPs and office BPs in patients who had taken home BP measurements were 1.46 (95% confidential interval (CI) 1.33–1.57), 1.35 (95% CI 1.21–1.47) and 1.23 (95% CI 1.06–1.37), respectively. Home BP measurements were associated with good hypertensive management. Our findings suggest that it is important that physicians recommend home BP measurements to their patients.