title: The impact of the day of the week on home blood pressure: the Finn-Home study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The impact of the day of the week on home blood pressure (BP) level and day-to-day BP profile is unknown. Our objectives were to examine (i) how the initial measurement day of the week affects 3-day and 7-day mean home BP and (ii) the BP variation between different days of the week.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included a population sample of 1852 participants aged 44-74 years. Home BP was measured twice in the morning and evening on 7 consecutive days. The days of the week on which home BP was measured were recorded. BP means were compared with analysis of variance and the t-test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no overall differences in mean systolic/diastolic BPs initiated on various days of the week (3-day means: P=0.15/0.66; 7-day means: P=0.11/0.55). Within-subject systolic/diastolic BP variation between different days of the week was small but significant (128.7±19.2-130.4±19.8/79.5±9.8-80.6±9.9 mmHg; P<0.001/<0.001). Systolic/diastolic BP was lowest during the weekend (Saturday-Sunday: 129.0±18.9/79.6±9.6 mmHg) and highest on Monday (130.4±19.8/80.6±9.9 mmHg), irrespective of the initial measurement day of the week (P for systolic/diastolic difference <0.001/<0.001). In subgroup analyses, the systolic/diastolic BP increase was greater from Saturday-Sunday to Monday among the employed than among the unemployed (1.8/1.3 vs. 0.8/0.7 mmHg; P=0.02/0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Seven-day home BP measurement can be initiated on any given day of the week. However, if a 3-day measurement is taken, it is recommended to keep in mind that BP is usually the lowest during the weekend, and highest at the beginning of the week, especially among the employed.
authors.affiliation: aChronic Disease Prevention Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare bDepartment of Medicine cTyks and Turku Region Joint Emergency Services, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Eeva P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Juhanoja
authors.forename: Pauli J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Puukka
authors.forename: Jouni K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.forename: Teemu J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Niiranen
authors.forename: Antti M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Jula
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors