title: [Diagnosis of mild arterial hypertension: 3 or 5 measurements?].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the differences in the diagnosis of light arterial hypertension between using three tension measurements (over 2 or 3 weeks) or five (6 or 7 weeks).
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive, longitudinal study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Santomera Health Centre, Murcia.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 245 patients initially diagnosed as suffering from light Hypertension (with three takes of blood pressure), two more tension measurements were taken, over four weeks, to make a definitive diagnosis of light arterial Hypertension. 156 patients completed the series, for whom the differences in diagnosis between three and five takes, and variations in their blood pressure figures on repetition of the measurements, were studied. There were no differences in patients' basic characteristics between those who completed the tests and those who didn't. But there were differences between different professionals regarding their compliance with the procedure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  19.9% of the patients diagnosed initially after three blood pressure measurements did not have the diagnosis confirmed after five. Repetition of the measurements signified decrease in diastolic (p < 0.00005) and systolic (p < 0.00005) pressures. Average age of patients definitely diagnosed as having light hypertension was higher than the age of those not confirmed (p < 0.005). The older the patient, the higher the systolic pressure (p < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The diagnosis of light arterial hypertension differed in 19.9% between three measurements and five.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Salud de Santomera, Unidad Docente de MFyC de Murcia.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Antón Botella
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Alcántara Muñoz
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Menárguez Puche
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Díaz Beltrán
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Canteras Jordana
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Girona Gálvez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors
vernacular_title: Diagnóstico de hipertensión arterial ligera: tres o cinco tomas?