Remote Blood Pressure Monitoring in Pregnancies at Risk of Developing Preeclampsia

Abstract

Purpose of review: This review examines the literature on remote blood pressure monitoring (RBPM) for pregnant women at high risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP).

Recent findings: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are a leading cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity. High risk women often require frequent outpatient review for blood pressure monitoring which can be resource-intensive. RBPM is an organised framework which allows patients to monitor their own blood pressure with clinician guidance, improving healthcare utilisation and potentially saving healthcare costs without worsening maternal and fetal outcomes. Following the COVID-19 pandemic and the growing research interest in mobile health, RBPM has been integrated into international guidelines for managing high-risk pregnancies. Yet there is significant heterogeneity across RBPM frameworks described in the literature, and a lack of clear guidance on the development and implementation of this strategy. RBPM offers promising additional surveillance for high-risk pregnant women. However, challenges remain in its safe implementation, including patient selection, technology, costs, and adequate training to ensure accuracy in blood pressure readings.

Keywords: Home blood pressure monitoring; Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy; Preeclampsia; Remote blood pressure monitoring; Self-monitoring of blood pressure.

Fig. 1

Different frameworks for remote blood pressure monitoring for high risk pregnant women trialed in studies