RESULTS The magnitude and significance of the telemonitoring effects on patients ' conditions ( e.g. , early detection of symptoms , decrease in blood pressure , adequate medication , reduced mortality ) still remain inconclusive for all four chronic illnesses .
However , the results of this study suggest that regardless of their nationality , socioeconomic status , or age , patients comply with telemonitoring programs and the use of technologies .
Importantly , the telemonitoring effects on clinical effectiveness outcomes ( e.g. , decrease in the emergency visits , hospital admissions , average hospital length of stay ) are more consistent in pulmonary and cardiac studies than diabetes and hypertension .
Home telemonitoring of chronic diseases seems to be a promising patient management approach that produces accurate and reliable data , empowers patients , influences their attitudes and behaviors , and potentially improves their medical conditions .
OBJECTIVE Home telemonitoring represents a patient management approach combining various information technologies for monitoring patients at distance .
This study presents a systematic review of the nature and magnitude of outcomes associated with telemonitoring of four types of chronic illnesses : pulmonary conditions , diabetes , hypertension , and cardiovascular diseases .
Tele-monitoring of Home Blood Pressure in Treated Hypertensive Patients
Aim : To compare the accuracy of clinic blood pressure ( CBP ) and telemedical home blood pressure ( HBP ) measurement in the assessment of antihypertensive effect . Methods : 362 patients on antihypertensive medication  performed  HBP measurement  ( 5 days , duplicate measurements , four times daily ) and ambulatory blood pressure ( ABP ) monitoring in r and om order . Main outcome measure was the agreement of CBP and HBP with daytime ABP . Results : CBP was much higher than ABP and average HBP ( p < 0.001 ) . There was a progressive decline in HBP over the course of the study , achieving the level of daytime ABP on the last 2 monitoring days . The correlation between CBP and ABP was weak ( systolic : r = 0.343 , diastolic r = 0.430 ) , whereas strong correlations existed between HBP and ABP ( systolic r = 0.804 , diastolic r = 0.776 ) . A progressive improvement in the strength of the correlation between average HBP of single days and ABP was obtained over the 5 monitoring days . The  HBP readings taken in the afternoon showed a stronger correlation with ABP than the values measured in the morning , at noon and in the evening . Averaging more HBP readings taken on succeeding days result ed in a progressive improvement in the agreement with ABP with a further benefit when readings of day 1 were included . Conclusions : The accuracy of telemedical HBP measurement is substantially better than that of CBP . The results suggest , that HBP should be measured for 5 days , and afternoon measurements should be preferred in assessing control of hypertension
RESULTS The magnitude and significance of the telemonitoring effects on patients ' conditions ( e.g. , early detection of symptoms , decrease in blood pressure , adequate medication , reduced mortality ) still remain inconclusive for all four chronic illnesses .
However , the results of this study suggest that regardless of their nationality , socioeconomic status , or age , patients comply with telemonitoring programs and the use of technologies .
Importantly , the telemonitoring effects on clinical effectiveness outcomes ( e.g. , decrease in the emergency visits , hospital admissions , average hospital length of stay ) are more consistent in pulmonary and cardiac studies than diabetes and hypertension .
Home telemonitoring of chronic diseases seems to be a promising patient management approach that produces accurate and reliable data , empowers patients , influences their attitudes and behaviors , and potentially improves their medical conditions .
OBJECTIVE Home telemonitoring represents a patient management approach combining various information technologies for monitoring patients at distance .
This study presents a systematic review of the nature and magnitude of outcomes associated with telemonitoring of four types of chronic illnesses : pulmonary conditions , diabetes , hypertension , and cardiovascular diseases .