Three RCTs (1,882 participants) were included. Maximum follow-up times were 8.6 months, one year and six years. In the trial with longest follow-up, 447 out of 1,298 patients were lost to follow-up. Quality of evidence assessed using GRADE ranged from moderate to very low.
Short-term outcomes (two RCTs): Compared with conventionally managed patients, patients managed by ambulatory monitoring were more likely to stop antihypertensive therapy (RR 3.61, 95% CI 2.11 to 6.18), more likely to have control of blood pressure (RR 1.72, 95% CI 1.18 to 2.52) and required less intensive drug therapy (MD 0.34, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.48). Conventionally managed patients were more likely to progress to sustained multidrug therapy (RR 1.57, 95% CI 1.20 to 2.06). All these outcomes were reported in one trial only. Other outcomes did not differ significantly between groups.
Long-term outcomes (one RCT): Compared with conventionally managed patients, patients managed by ambulatory monitoring were less likely to experience a fatal or non-fatal cardiovascular event (RR 1.76, 95% CI 1.03 to 3.02). Conventionally managed patients were more likely to have control of blood pressure (RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.81 to 0.99). Other outcomes did not differ significantly between groups.