Poster Session 4
Category: Health Equity/Community Health
Poster Session 4
Anna Madden-Rusnak, PhD (she/her/hers)
Research Scientist
Department of Women’s Health, Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin
Austin, Texas, United States
Miriam J. Alvarez, PhD
Research Scientist
Department of Women’s Health, Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin
Austin, Texas, United States
Alejandro Guevara, MPH
Medical Student
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Paul L. Foster School of Medicine
El Paso, Texas, United States
Nandini Raghuraman, MD, MSCI
Associate Professor
Washington University School of Medicine
St. Louis, Missouri, United States
George A. A. Macones, MD, MS, MSCE
Chair & Professor, Department of Women’s Health
Department of Women’s Health, Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin
Austin, Texas, United States
Lorie M. Harper, MD (she/her/hers)
Associate Professor
Department of Women’s Health, Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin
Austin, Texas, United States
Alison G. G. Cahill, MD, MSCI
Assoc. Dean, Translational Research; Prof, Women’s Health; Dir, Health Transformation Research Inst.
Department of Women’s Health, Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin
Department of Women’s Health, Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin, Texas, United States
Postpartum home blood pressure (BP) monitoring is commonly used to balance the need for continued surveillance in pregnancies complicated by hypertension with the goal of timely discharge after delivery. This study explored the real-world feasibility of twice-daily home blood pressure monitoring in the critical first two weeks postpartum among underserved, primarily Spanish-speaking individuals with hypertensive disorders.
Study Design:
A prospective, observational pilot study enrolled postpartum persons diagnosed with gestational hypertension (gHTN), preeclampsia (Pre-E), or chronic hypertension (cHTN) for remote BP monitoring. Participants self-monitored BP twice daily via text message prompts over two weeks, with automated real-time feedback. Response rates were calculated across the sample. A generalized linear mixed effect model assessed compliance by time of day (am or pm), week, and diagnosis.
Results:
Seventy-five postpartum individuals were enrolled; most were Hispanic (87%), Spanish-speaking (72%), and publicly insured (88%). Diagnoses included gHTN (51%), Pre-E (40%) and cHTN (9%). Eighty-five percent submitted at least one BP reading during the study period, with a mean of 12 ± 8.4 readings each. Of 2,100 text prompts, 786 (37%) received responses. Response rates dropped in Week 2 (OR = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.30–0.48, p < 0.001). Time of day (p = 0.72 ) and diagnosis (p = 0.77) were not significant predictors of response.
Conclusion:
This pilot study shows the feasibility and limits of remote BP monitoring in an underserved high-risk population. Although overall response was modest, higher initial engagement supports short-term monitoring. Participation dropped after one week, indicating the need for brief, focused interventions. Future research should address barriers like caregiving demands, digital literacy, or post-delivery recovery. With refinement, home BP monitoring can be a scalable way to improve postpartum care and reduce disparities.