Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring: A proposal for new Canadian guidelines

OBJECTIVE: To provide background information on the scientific basis for new Canadian guidelines on ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and the process for developing recommendations for clinical practice. DATA SOURCES: A comprehensive review of the literature on ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was conducted using a computerized literature search and a bibliography of key scientific articles. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: Studies of the highest scientific quality were used to support recommendations based on established rules for grading evidence. DATA SYNTHESIS: A series of recommendations for the use of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in routine clinical practice directed towards both untreated patients with a diagnosis of possible hypertension and treated patients with a suspected 'white coat' component to their office readings have been proposed for consideration by the Canadian Hypertension Society. CONCLUSIONS: There are now sufficient data available to support the use of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in accordance with specific clinical practice guidelines.