Telemonitoring for hypertensive disease in pregnancy

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Telemonitoring of hypertension in pregnancy is becoming increasingly common. Several small studies have described the potential benefits of patient-led remote monitoring, including fewer hospital visits, better blood pressure control, and cost savings.

Areas covered: This review summarises the principles of prenatal remote monitoring of hypertension as well as the types of devices and applications currently in use. We summarise current evidence regarding the potential benefits and pitfalls with respect to outcomes for mothers, neonates and wider population health. Core topics for ongoing and future research are discussed, with special emphasis on feasibility and validation of technologies, methodological standardization, patient safety, privacy and acceptability, and health economics and governance.

Expert opinion: Telemonitoring of hypertension in pregnancy is likely to become commonplace in the next five to ten years and research now must be directed to ensure it is used in the safest way before its general introduction into daily clinical practice can be recommended. Raising women’s awareness of their health condition could improve both pregnancy and long-term health outcomes.

KEYWORDS:

• Prenatal care
• pregnancy
• remote monitoring
• telemonitoring
• hypertension
• preeclampsia
• gestational hypertension

Declaration of interest

A Khalil is the inventor of HAMPTON which provides home monitoring of blood pressure in pregnancy – the development was funded by the Health Foundation Innovation grant. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.