(261) Participation in a remote blood pressure monitoring program and engagement in postpartum care

Objective: Remote postpartum (PP) blood pressure (BP) monitoring programs may improve postpartum visit (PPV) attendance for patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). This study aims to compare patient characteristics and overall PP care utilization between patients who do and do not engage in a telehealth-based PP remote BP monitoring program.

Study Design: This was a retrospective study of participants in our institutional PP remote BP monitoring program from 11/1/2022-10/31/2023. Eligibility criteria included a diagnosis of chronic hypertension (HTN) or HDP. Patients were given a BP cuff, instructed on home BP monitoring, and scheduled for a telehealth visit within 1 week of discharge. Patients graduated when BP normalized off therapy or at 12 weeks PP. Participants were divided into 3 groups based on participation: 1) declined or enrolled but never attended; 2) attended ≥1 visit but did not graduate; 3) graduated. Patient characteristics and PP care were extracted from the electronic health record. Primary outcomes were attendance at a PPV and a visit for HTN management within 6 weeks PP. Groups were compared using chi-square or Fisher exact tests for categorical and ANOVA for continuous variables. Logistic regression was used to determine the odds of the primary outcomes.

Results: 772 patients were approached for enrollment, of which 348 (45.1%) were in group 1, 126 (16.3%) in group 2, and 298 (38.6%) in group 3. Patients were similar between groups with two exceptions: the proportion of non-English language (6.9% v 7.9% v 14.1%, p=0.007) and the proportion of HDP diagnosis (70.4% v 77.8% v 83.9, p=0.0003). Odds of attending a PPV were greater in patients that initiated the program than those that did not (Group 2 adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.11; 95% CI 1.12-3.97, Group 3 aOR 1.67, 95% CI 1.02-2.72) as were the odds of attending a visit for HTN (Group 2 aOR 1.56, 95% CI 1.02-2.40, Group 3 aOR 1.82, 95% CI 1.26-2.63).

Conclusion: Participation in a remote BP monitoring program appears to improve rates of postpartum visit attendance and health care utilization up to 6 weeks postpartum.