Development of a mobile-based hypertension risk monitoring system

Published Online July 2019 in MECS

Uncontrolled hypertension is an ongoing challenge to health care systems worldwide [1]. When hypertension is poorly controlled, it increases mortality, morbidity, and economic burden especially among older adults, and it is a major public health concern all over the world, [2].

Hypertension or high blood pressure (HBP) is a cardiac chronic medical condition in which the systemic arterial blood pressure is elevated [3]. Hypertension condition is categorized as either primary (essential) or secondary hypertension. Primary hypertension does not have a clear 1 medical cause, while secondary hypertension is linked to identifiable causes such as vascular disorder, kidney diseases or endocrine [4,5].

Hypertension is diagnosed with persistent elevation of the systolic blood pressure (SBP) >  140 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) >  90 mmHg based on the average of two or more correct blood pressure measurement taken two or more contact with healthcare providers [6]. Globally, the overall prevalence of hypertension in adults from age 25 and over, was around 40% in 2008 [7].

It is vital to control illness, which involves carrying out necessary investigations, essential enquiries into the patient history and the administration of therapy by the Doctor (medical practitioner). The essence of this, is to ensure that the patients BP remain within the normal range [8]. Hypertension is the leading and most essential modifiable risk factor for heart diseases, renal diseases, stroke, and retinopathy [9].

In Sub-Saharan Africa, studies have shown that uncontrolled hypertension contributed to stroke, chronic kidney disease, retina (sight) problem, aortic dissection and heart failure [4]. Surveys in some countries on blood pressure (BP) showed that less than 25% of patients with hypertension are under good BP control [1].

According to Logan et al. [10], concern over the rise in a poor level of blood pressure (BP) control among patients with hypertensive, has led to serious early search for new ways of managing hypertension. Also, patients are willing to become more actively involved in managing their own healthcare [11]. Introduction of selfmonitoring whether at home or office, in short, any location becomes a way of increasing patient’s involvement in managing hypertension.

A disease risk monitoring includes the automation of the risk assessment of diseases, which provides cost savings for the patients/hospitals management, and increases the efficiency of the specialists [12,13,14]. Using information and communication technology (ICT), which involves mobile computing, distributed computing, and the internet, can provide healthcare service to monitor hypertension and its risk anytime, and anywhere.

Mobile technology is an ubiquitous tool in managing everyday life over a variety of applications. It can be used by an intending user to provide quality healthcare service from any remote location and is very portable thereby making services easily accessible and available. Mobile technology can assist in developing a system that has a communication platform for patients and doctors. With the use of mobile technologies, hypertension risk can be easily identified and managed by doctors and patients. Patients will be directed to conduct necessary investigations to know their health status.

The need to develop and organize new ways of providing effective and efficient healthcare service has increased with the use of Information Technology [15,16]. The use of IT in healthcare service (e-Health), involves using communication technologies, such as the internet, computer systems, portable, wireless and other devices in support of healthcare delivery and education [17,18]. eHealth entails a fundamental redesign of healthcare processes based on the use and integration of electronic communications in all levels. The medical information of a patient can be stored electronically, and be used in decision making concerning the patient’s treatment and health. It will help in providing reliable, flexible, timely and secure healthcare delivery to patients by the medical practitioners.

The integration of clinical decision support system might decrease medical errors, enhance the patient result, decrease unwelcome practice disparity, and improve patient's protection [19]. The integration of computing platforms and wireless communication technologies in healthcare systems has enhanced the quality of health service for millions of people all over the world [20]. The use of ICT has brought revolution to healthcare services and using mobile technology will provide the ability to instantly update patient’s records, which will help the medical practitioners to make the more accurate decision and enhance quality care for patients, which will also help in early detection, diagnosis, and management of patient's health.

There is a need to design the processes that are centred on the need of patients [21] and elicit knowledge from the experts on the processes involved. This will enable patients to easily access the required information needed in taking care of their own health. Medical decision support systems are becoming more and more essential in assisting the doctors to take correct decisions [22]. There is a need for the development of a mobile-based system for the classification of the risk of hypertension. This will enhance early detection of the disease for providing clinical decision support and improving the living standard of the patients.

The aim of this study is to build a mobile-based classification system called BP_HRMSystem that can identify or diagnose individuals suffering from hypertension, classify and manage the hypertension risk, which will greatly help in creating awareness.

This system has a communication platform that can allow the doctor and patient to communicate with each other through the administrator. The patient can leave messages for the doctor and get related advice from the doctor. Then, medical practitioners can check the messages and give related answers or replies. Moreover, the medical practitioner can give some advice when they view the current condition of the patient. This will help the patient to take the right steps or treatment required.

The system has a knowledgeable database that can be used to guide patients and medical practitioners. The system keeps track of the patient's medical history and is able to plot a graph on the blood pressure of the patient. The patient and the medical practitioner can see the way the blood pressure is fluctuating, evaluate the patient and make decisions. The system keeps track of the body mass index (BMI) of the patient, which can be seen at a glance.

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