Home blood pressure monitoring and hypertension status among US adults: the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2009-2010.

Background: Currently, no national prevalence is available on home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM).

Methods: This report is based on national-level, cross-sectional data for noninstitutionalized US adults aged ≥18 years (n = 6,001 participants) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2009-2010.

Results: Overall, 21.7% of the population reported HBPM in the past year. Using 2010 Census data as a reference, approximately 33 million (14.5%) individuals engaged in monthly or more frequent HBPM. The frequency of HBPM increased with higher age, higher body mass index, higher family income-to-poverty ratio, and a higher number of health-care visits (all, P < 0.05). Adults with health-care coverage engaged in monthly or more frequent HBPM than adults without coverage (16.1% vs. 8.4%; P < 0.05). Among people with hypertension (blood pressure ≥140/90mm Hg or currently taking medication), 36.6% engaged in monthly or more frequent HBPM. Of those with hypertension whom were aware, treated, and controlled, 41.9%, 43.5%, and 42.1%, respectively, engaged in monthly or more frequent HBPM. Adjusting for covariables, those who were aware of, treated for, and controlled their hypertension were more likely to have a higher frequency of HBPM than the reference: unaware, untreated, and uncontrolled (odds ratio (OR) = 3.59; OR = 3.96; and OR = 1.50, respectively).

Conclusions: Approximately 14.5% of adults engaged in monthly or more frequent HBPM. Being aware of hypertension, being pharmacologically treated, and being controlled were associated with an increased frequency of HBPM. Even among these categories of people with hypertension, <50% were using HBPM.