Blood Pressure (Dec 2023)

Blood pressure telemonitoring and telemedicine, a Latin America perspective

  • Daniel Piskorz,
  • Luis Alcocer,
  • Ricardo López Santi,
  • Adriana Puente Barragán,
  • Ana Múnera,
  • Dora Inés Molina,
  • Héctor Galván Oseguera,
  • Weimar Sebba Barroso,
  • Silvia Palomo,
  • Enrique Díaz-Díaz,
  • Ernesto Cardona-Muñoz,
  • Fernando Wyss,
  • Carlos Ponte Negretti,
  • Martín Rosas Peralta,
  • Adolfo Chávez Mendoza,
  • Hunberto Alvarez López,
  • Ernesto Peñaherrera Patiño,
  • Arturo Guerra López,
  • Xavier Escudero,
  • José Manuel Enciso,
  • on behalf of the Writing Group of Mexico Hypertension Experts Group, Interamerican Society of Hypertension, Epidemiology and Cardiovascular Prevention Council of the Interamerican Society of Cardiology, and National Cardiologist Association of Mexico

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/08037051.2023.2251586
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 32, no. 1

Abstract

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Purpose To share a Latin-American perspective of the use of telemedicine, together with blood pressure measurements outside the medical office, as a potential contribution to improving access to the health system, diagnosis, adherence, and persistence in hypertension treatment. Material and methods A document settled by a Writing Group of Mexico Hypertension Experts Group, Interamerican Society of Hypertension, Epidemiology and Cardiovascular Prevention Council of the Interamerican Society of Cardiology, and National Cardiologist Association of Mexico Results In almost all Latin American countries, the health sector faces two fundamental challenges: (1) ensure equitable access to quality care services in a growing population that faces an increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases, and (2) optimise the growing costs of health services, maintaining equity, accessibility, universality, and quality. Telehealth proposes an innovative approach to patient management, especially for chronic conditions, intending to provide remote consultation, education, and follow-up to achieve measurements and goals. It is a tool that promises to improve access, empower the patient, and somehow influence their behaviour about lifestyle changes, improving prevention and reducing complications of hypertension. The clinical practitioner has seen increased evidence that the use of out-of-office blood pressure (BP) measurement and telemedicine are helpful tools to keep patients and physicians in contact and promote better pharmacological adherence and BP control. A survey carried out by medical and scientific institutions showed that practitioners are up-to-date with telemedicine, had internet access, and had hardware availability. Conclusions A transcendent issue is the need to make the population aware of the benefits of taking blood pressure to avoid complications of hypertension, and in this scenario, promote the creation of teleconsultation mechanisms for the follow-up of patients diagnosed with hypertension.

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