HealthPartners Institute awarded $6M to see if telemonitoring can lower high blood pressure

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — HealthPartners Institute investigators will use a $6 million award from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) to continue work on a groundbreaking high blood pressure study called Hyperlink at HealthPartners clinics. Researchers are looking at whether monitoring blood pressure from home with a direct link to a pharmacist or nurse practitioner in addition to regular visits to a primary doctor can improve a patient’s health and decrease blood pressure. Telemonitoring means patients have their own blood pressure measuring device at home. Readings are transmitted to a pharmacist or nurse practitioner and they can tailor treatment.

“We are really excited that we are able to continue on with this line of research,” said Dr. Karen Margolis, MD, MPH. “A two to three point drop in a blood pressure reading over a sustained period can make the difference between having or not having a stroke or heart attack.”

HealthPartners patient Pat Buchholz of Apple Valley credits the earlier phases of the HealthPartners Institute Hyperlink study for prolonging her life. Her blood pressure was telemonitored by HealthPartners West Clinic pharmacist Sarah Groen.

“It has given me these years and I hope I have many more,” said Pat Buchholz, “…so far so good.”

Key points

• This is the third phase of the Hyperlink study. In the first two phases, investigators found that patients who got home-based telemonitoring achieved double the rate of blood pressure control over the next year, compared to patients who did not.   
• Hyperlink 3 will include data from a much larger sample of patients to learn whether a telemonitoring approach and involving patients in their own care can help them achieve lower blood pressure and improve their health.

Watch a short video about Hyperlink and the success patients had.