Control of home heart rate and home blood pressure levels in treated patients with hypertension: the J-HOME study

OBJECTIVE: Recently, it was found that resting heart rate (HR) measured at home (home HR), as well as self-measured blood pressure (BP) at home (home BP), was a strong predictor of the risk of cardiovascular disease mortality in the general Japanese population. It was also reported that home BP levels were not adequately controlled in hypertensive patients. Little information, however, is available on the current status of home HR control in treated patients with hypertension. The objective of this study was to examine the current status of home HR control and home BP control among treated patients with hypertension. METHODS: Home HR and BP were measured using a self-monitored BP measuring device. Morning home HR and BP were obtained in 3183 patients and evening home HR and BP were obtained in 3106 patients. On the basis of an earlier study, we defined a home HR value of >or=70 beats/min as 'high home HR'. RESULTS: The mean home HR value was 67.2+/-9.1 beats/min in the morning and 69.6+/-9.2 beats/min in the evening. Of the 3183 patients, 35.7% had a high home HR in the morning and 46.7% of the 3106 patients had a high home HR in the evening. The prevalence of patients with a high home HR and a controlled home BP (<135/85 mmHg) was 11.3% in the morning and 24.2% in the evening. CONCLUSION: Resting home HR control and home BP control were inadequate.