[Comparison and reproducibility of 3 indirect methods for measuring blood pressure].
It is rare to find systematic comparisons of various methods for measuring blood pressure. This study aimed to compare blood pressure measurements performed by the doctor, by the patient and on a 24-hour basis with regard to their reliability and reproducibility. A total of 84 patients were included in the study. All patients had their blood pressure measured at the doctor's office twice on day 1 and 10, by themselves and with a 24-h blood pressure measuring unit. The doctors obtained the highest means. The mean systolic and diastolic value taken on the day 1 was higher by 13 mmHg and 8 mmHg than the ABPM value or the measurement obtained by the patient at home, respectively. This difference was still present at the end of the study (7 mmHg and 5 mmHg compared to ABPM and 9 mmHg and 6 mmHg compared to the patient's measurements, respectively). The values obtained by 24-h measurement and the patients themselves showed a better reproducibility than the doctor's measurements. Both methods are thus suitably good for use in diagnostics and therapy monitoring. Compared to the patient's own measurements, the 24-hour blood pressure measurement is less dependent on the patient's reliability.
Horten-Zentrum für praxisorientierte Forschung und Wissenstransfer Bolleystrasse 40 Postfach Nord CH-8091 Zürich.
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Widmer
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Bachmann
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Vetter
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results