BUMP
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Blood pressure monitoring in high risk pregnancy to improve the detection and monitoring of hypertension
IRAS ID
224978
Contact name
Richard McManus
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Oxford University
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Summary of Research
Raised blood pressure (BP) affects approximately 10% of pregnancies worldwide, and a proportion of affected women develop pre-eclampsia. Around 15% of maternal mortality is due to pre-eclampsia so early detection and prevention is paramount. Self-monitoring of blood pressure in pregnancy could improve the detection and management of gestational hypertensive disorders including pre-eclampsia, whilst also empowering and engaging women in their own care. This study aims to evaluate the use of self-monitoring of BP in pregnancy in women at higher risk of pre-eclampsia for the detection and management of hypertension.
Summary of Results
Blood pressure self-monitoring in pregnancy: The BUMP 1 and BUMP 2 trials
The aim of the BUMP1 and BUMP2 trials was to see whether blood pressure self-monitoring could lead to earlier detection of high blood pressure in pregnancy (BUMP 1) and the effect self-monitoring might have on blood pressure control and related outcomes among pregnant women with raised blood pressure (BUMP 2).
The women who took part in the trials were randomly allocated to either carry on with their normal antenatal care, or to monitor their blood pressure at home in addition to their usual care - either three times a week (BUMP 1) or daily (BUMP 2). The self-monitoring group were asked to submit their readings using an App designed for the study. The App would provide instant feedback on whether the blood pressure entered was normal or high and instructions on what to do if it went above or below certain thresholds. Altogether over 3000 women took part in the trials across fifteen hospitals throughout England, making this the largest completed investigation into pregnancy-related blood-pressure self-monitoring to date.
The researchers found that while self-monitoring appeared to be safe, it made no difference to the timing of diagnosis or control of high blood pressure. Interestingly though, over half of the women in the self-monitoring group of BUMP 1 had raised blood pressure at home - around one month prior to their clinic diagnosis. This suggests that home monitoring could lead to earlier diagnosis, but further work is needed to understand how.
REC name
West Midlands - South Birmingham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/WM/0241
Date of REC Opinion
29 Jun 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion