Blood Pressure Control in a Hypertension Telemedicine Intervention: Does Distance to Primary Care Matter?. Issue 10 (23rd July 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bowen, Michael E.; Bosworth, Hayden B.; Roumie, Christianne L.
• Is Part Of: Journal of clinical hypertension. Volume 15:Issue 10(2013:Oct.)
• Page Start: 723
• Page End: 730
• Publication Date: 2013-07-23
• Subjects: Hypertension -- Periodicals; 616.132
• DOI: 10.1111/jch.12172
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1524-6175

Abstract

Abstract : Although telemedicine may help overcome geographic access barriers, it is unknown whether rural patients receive greater benefits. In a secondary analysis of 503 veterans participating in a hypertension telemedicine study, the authors hypothesized that patients with greater travel distances would have greater improvements in 18‐month systolic blood pressure (SBP). Patients were categorized by telemedicine exposure and travel distance to primary care, derived from zip codes. Comparisons were (1) usual care (UC), distance <30 miles (reference); (2) UC, distance ≥30 miles; (3) telemedicine, distance <30 miles; (4) telemedicine, distance ≥30 miles. Compared with patients receiving UC, distance <30 miles (intercept=127.7), no difference in 18‐month SBP was observed in patients receiving UC, distance ≥30 miles (0.13 mm Hg, 95% confidence interval [−6.6 to 6.8]); telemedicine, distance <30 miles (−1.1 mm Hg [−7.3 to 5.2]); telemedicine, distance ≥30 miles (−0.80 mm Hg [−6.6 to 5.1]). Although telemedicine may help overcome geographic access barriers, additional studies are needed to identify patients most likely to benefit.