Home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) in the blood pressure control in hemodialysis patients

INTRODUCTION: It is not known whether the adjustment of the antihypertensive therapy based on Home Blood Pressure Monitoring (HBPM) can improve blood pressure (BP) control in hemodialysis patients. OBJECTIVES: To compare the reduction in BP and in the left ventricular mass index (LVMI) obtained with the use of HBPM in relation to that achieved with predialysis BP measurements in hemodialysis patients. METHODS: Hypertensive patients on hemodialysis were randomized to have the antihypertensive therapy adjusted according two groups: control, based on the predialysis BP measurements, and intervention, based on HBPM. Before and after 06 months of follow-up, patients were submitted to Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM) for 24 hours, HBPM during one week and transthoracic echocardiogram. RESULTS: 34 and 31 patients completed the study in the intervention and control groups, respectively. The systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure in the interdialytic period by ABPM were significantly lower in the intervention group compared with the control group at the end of the study (mean 24-hours BP: 135 ± 13 mm Hg / 76 ± 7 mmHg versus 147 ± 15 mm Hg / 79 ± 8 mmHg, respectively - p <0.05). When the interdialytic BP was analysed by HBPM, the intervention group showed significant reduction only for the PAS in comparison with control group (mean weekly BP: 144 ± 21 mm Hg versus 154 ± 22 mm Hg, respectively - p <0.05). There were no differences between intervention and control groups in relation to LVMI at the end of the study (108 ± 36 g/m2 versus 110 ± 33 g/m2, respectively - p> 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The systematic use of HBPM in the adjustment of antihypertensive therapy in patients on hemodialysis has led to better control of BP during interdialytic period compared to that achieved with the predialysis BP measurements. The HBPM can be used as a useful adjunct instrument to control blood pressure in hemodialysis patients.