Can they hack it? Yes they can

Can they hack it ? Yes, but ….

We read with interest your article about a smartphone app allowing the patients to collect and compute home blood pressure readings (BMJ 2013;347:f4437 ). Reading your article has made us to point out the fact that we developed a similar web-based application more than ten years ago. In 1999, we created a website in french for self management of home blood pressure (35,000 to 48,000 unique visitors per month). This educational and non-profit support have been regularly updated according to international guidelines.

Our free app is used directly by patients, either spontaneously or on the advice of their doctors. In addition to calculating the mean blood pressure, our website also serves as an educational tool for patients included in local research protocols where home blood pressure measurement is required. In 2009, we published our data about how patients and physicians handle this new clinical tool (1). In 2011, we updated our website by creating an automatic algorithm for the interpretation of home blood pressure readings depending on patient’s characteristics. A new update according to the recent European Society of Hypertension Guidelines (June 2013) will be available in October 2013 in four languages : French, English, Italian, and Spanish (www.automesure.com / www.self-measurement.com / www.automisura.com / www.automedida.com ). In addition, our new app will be fully compatible with the new home blood pressure device connected to iPhone and iPad (Withings®). At the time of its launch, we will gladly provide our algorithm to the Health authorities or to the BMJ if we are asked. Can they hack it? Yes, …. but we did first.

1. Postel-Vinay N, Bobrie G, Asmar R. Rev Prat. 2009 Oct 20;59(8 Suppl):8-12. Patient reporting of self-measurement results: survey Autoprov. [Article in French]

Postel-Vinay N*, Savard S**, Bobrie G*.
* European Georges-Pompidou Hospital, Hypertension unit (Centre of Excellence). Paris, France automesure@noos.fr

** Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec - Hôtel-Dieu de Québec, Nephrology Unit, Québec, Canada.