[Cardiovascular risk and ambulatory blood pressure measurement of arterial pressure].
Many studies have demonstrated that elevation of blood pressure is proportional to the risk of developing cardiovascular accidents. The relationship between blood pressure and cardiovascular risk varies according to whether diastolic, systolic or pulse pressure is considered. Several other parameters are involved in the determinism of the blood pressure risk such as age, gender, ethnic group, etc. These elements emphasize the importance of considering the various blood pressures as well of the patient's risk factors and clinical characteristics for global evaluation of the cardiovascular risk. As blood pressure is an eminently variable parameter and as the essential element of evaluation of the blood pressure risk is based on its determination, it is important to measure blood pressure accurately and precisely. Clinical measurement of BP constitutes the reference method, but presents several limits and several causes of error which raise the problem of its validity to evaluate a given patient's mean blood pressure. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring during 24 hours of usual activity appears to more accurately evaluate the blood pressure load likely to induce organic lesions, as several studies have demonstrated its superiority over occasional measurement to evaluate the risk and cardiovascular prognosis of HT. However, whether its application in the evaluation of the global cardiovascular risk and therapeutic management can improve the prevention strategy and long-term cardiovascular prognosis has yet to be determined.
Hôpital Bellevue, Service de Médecine Interne, Pr Queneau, Saint-Etienne.
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D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors
Risque cardiovasculaire et mesure ambulatoire de la pression artérielle.