Blood pressure measurement
Office BP was chosen as the outcome as it is commonly used in clinical studies to evaluate the effect of a BP intervention. Office BP was measured at the PHCC by the patient's nurse or physician at baseline, at 8 weeks and at 12 months. Instructions for standardized BP measurement were given to the healthcare professionals at the local start-up meeting for the trial and via a website to ensure systematic BP measurements. After 5 min of rest, the patient's BP was measured in the upper arm with them in a sitting position. A validated electronic BP monitor (Microlife BP A6 BT) was used and the mean value of three consecutive measures was displayed and manually recorded in the electronic case report form (eCRF). The patients in the intervention group brought the same type of monitor home with them and used it for daily measurements during the intervention.According to current European guidelines [Titration of antihypertensive drugs was not specified in the study instructions. If BP values were high or too low, the prescribing physician could modify the patient's treatment at any time during the intervention.