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The reliability of patient self-reported blood pressures
Cynthia Cheng1, James S Studdiford, Christopher V Chambers
1Department of Family Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA. cynthia.cheng@mail.tju.edu
Insights
Patient self-monitoring of blood pressure (BP) is crucial for hypertension management. This study found that patients accurately reported their BP readings 80% of the time over six months, supporting its clinical utility.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Hypertension Management
- Patient Self-Monitoring
Background:
- Self-monitoring of blood pressure (BP) is key for hypertension management.
- Inaccurate patient reporting can limit the effectiveness of self-monitoring.
- Assessing the reliability of patient-reported BP is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the accuracy and reliability of patient self-reported blood pressure readings.
- To determine if BP reporting accuracy is sustained over a 6-month period.
- To investigate potential biases in patient self-reporting of BP.
Main Methods:
- 49 patients with Joint National Committee stage 1 or 2 hypertension were enrolled.
- Subjects recorded outpatient BP twice weekly, unaware monitors stored readings.
- Stored monitor values were compared against patient-recorded data.
Main Results:
- Patient-recorded BP readings matched stored monitor values 80% or more of the time.
- Reporting reliability remained consistent throughout the 6-month study.
- Mean self-reported and stored BP values were nearly identical (134/78 vs. 135/80 mm Hg).
- Patients did not selectively underreport lower BP readings.
Conclusions:
- Reliable patient self-reporting of blood pressure is achievable.
- This accuracy supports the value of self-monitoring for hypertension management.
- Self-monitoring can be a dependable tool when patients report accurately.
Abstract:
Self-monitoring of blood pressure actively involves patients in hypertension management. However, the usefulness of self-monitoring of blood pressure may be limited by inaccurate patient reporting. The study objective was to assess reliability of patient blood pressure reporting over 6 months. Forty-nine subjects with Joint National Committee stage 1 or 2 hypertension were enrolled. Unaware that the monitors electronically store readings, the subjects were asked to check and record outpatient blood pressures twice weekly. Stored and written readings were compared. On average, patient-recorded blood pressures were equivalent to stored monitor values 80% or more of the time. Reliability of patient self-reporting was sustained over the 6-month study period. Notably, patients did not selectively report lower blood pressure readings. The overall mean self-reported and stored monitor blood pressures were nearly identical: blood pressure (+/-SD) 134+/-16.8/78+/-11.6 mm Hg and 135+/-19.6/80+/-13.3 mm Hg, respectively. The reliability of self-reporting of blood pressures for many patients supports the potential usefulness of self-monitoring of blood pressure in hypertension management.