Errors in assessment of blood pressure: blood pressure measuring technique.
This article reviews the recommended techniques for accurate and reproducible blood pressure measurements. The scientific basis underlying current recommendations for blood pressure measurement is presented. Many of the current recommendations are not followed in ambulatory care clinics and this paper will show how measurement errors in excess of 15 mm Hg or more can occur. Many patients will be misclassified and treated inappropriately when errors in blood pressure measurement of this magnitude are made. Rigorous adherence to proper blood pressure measurement is necessary to evaluate a patient's risk of cardiovascular disease, and to assess the need or efficacy of antihypertensive therapy.
Campbell
N R
NR
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
McKay
D W
DW
Chockalingam
A
A
Fodor
J G
JG
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015982:Bias; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents