OBJECTIVE MEASUREMENT OF ANXIETY IN HYPERTENSIVE PREGNANT-WOMEN MANAGED IN HOSPITAL AND IN THE COMMUNITY

Objectives To determine whether pregnant hypertensives women are more anxious when monitored in hospital or at homes. Design Prospective randomized controlled trial. Setting Rosie Maternity Hospital and women's homes. Subjects Ninety-nine pregnant hypertensive women: 50 had their blood pressure measured telemetrically from home, and 49 had it measured in hospital. Main outcome measures Number of episodes of monitoring, duration of monitoring, mean blood pressure during monitoring, gestational age at delivery, trait and state anxiety levels. Results There were no significant differences in anxiety levels, or in any other outcome measure, between the home and hospital groups. Conclusion When blood pressure is being monitored serially in pregnant hypertensive women, there is no measurable difference in their anxiety levels, whether they are in hospital or at home.