JMIR Publications recently published “Blood Pressure Monitoring as a Digital Health Tool for Improving Diabetes Clinical Outcomes: Retrospective Real-world Study” within the Journal of Medical Web Research (JMIR), which reported that there’s a lack of awareness of the association between blood glucose (BG) and blood pressure (BP) levels when using digital health tools.
By applying a rigorous study framework to digital health data, this study investigated the connection between BP monitoring and BG and BP levels, in addition to a lagged association between BP and BG levels.
These JMIR authors hypothesized that in the course of the first 6 months of BP monitoring, BG and BP levels would decrease.
In addition they suggested a positive association between BP levels and the next month’s BG levels.
The researchers analyzed the digital data of the users who, along with BG, monitored their BP using the identical app 6 months before and after starting their BP monitoring. Propensity rating matching established a control group (with no blood pressure monitoring) matched on demographic and baseline clinical measures to the BPM group.
Major goals for the treatment of diabetes are to stop or delay complications and optimize the standard of life.”
Dr. Pavel Goldstein, The University of Haifa
A big proportion of individuals with diabetes exhibit poorly controlled hypertension, which can reflect not only delayed recognition of the presence of hypertension, clinical inaction, and poor adherence to the prescribed regimen but additionally uncertainty regarding the treatment targets and pathogenic correlation.
Blood Pressure Monitoring as a Digital Health Tool for Improving Diabetes Clinical Outcomes: Retrospective Real-world Study https://t.co/ue0VdO6RsM pic.twitter.com/EwiRCFMtiN
-; Tom Bellis (@tommybellis) February 8, 2022
Hypertension and diabetes are major risk aspects for cardiac diseases, stroke, and kidney disorders; nevertheless, hypertension is the leading heart problems – and a related reason for morbidity and mortality amongst individuals with type 2 diabetes.
Communication of test results also has been shown to be highly desired amongst individuals with hypertension, and lifestyle-focused educational messages providing advice, motivational reminders, and support also were shown to be effective in improving hypertension and other chronic conditions.
Although mobile apps have the potential to be useful for individuals with hypertension or diabetes, little is thought about their efficacy in targeting several chronic conditions at one time or monitoring each BP and BG levels on a single mobile app.
Dr Goldstein and their research team concluded of their JMIR Publications research output that their findings show a big association between BP measurement and improved glycemic control.
A clinical impact was observed in users who measured their BG in the primary 6-month period of BP monitoring. In addition they observed real-time linkage between a discount in BP levels and a discount in BG levels.
From the behavioral science perspective, this isn’t surprising. Concurrently, directing effort into actionable areas for improvement of BP is more likely to increase the thought and motion needed for improvement of BG.
Furthermore, the technique of BP self-monitoring in lowering systolic and diastolic BP levels was demonstrated on this study.
Future work should concentrate on investigating the mechanisms underlying the comorbidity of diabetes and hypertension and their management, in addition to identifying and applying mediation models and behavioral interventions that transcend actionable multiple chronic conditions that drive prohealth behavioral change.
Source:
Journal reference:
Fundoiano-Hershcovitz, Y., et al. (2022) Blood Pressure Monitoring as a Digital Health Tool for Improving Diabetes Clinical Outcomes: Retrospective Real-world Study. Journal Of Medical Web Research. doi.org/10.2196/32923.