Ambulatory blood pressure measurement as a predictor of outcome in an Irish population: methodology for ascertaining mortality outcome.
BACKGROUND
Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) has proven to be a superior predictor of morbid events when compared to clinic or office blood pressure measurement (CBPM). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of ABPM in a sample of 14 414 people referred for management of cardiovascular risk.


METHODS
In this paper we describe the methodology required to examine mortality outcome in the absence of a national unique identifier.


RESULTS
Using a computerized database of deaths we were able to establish that 1348 people had died by the end of the follow-up period (30 September 2002). Sixty-four percent of deaths were cardiovascular and in 207 subjects who had post-mortem examinations, 78% were cardiovascular.


CONCLUSIONS
The accurate identification of the cause of death in a large population will allow comparison of the relative predictive power of APBM and CBPM in an Irish population.
D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002423:Cause of Death; D003625:Data Collection; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008722:Methods; D009026:Mortality; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012306:Risk