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Which is the correct term for blood pressure measurements taken at home?
1Hypertension Center, Third University Department of Medicine, Sotiria Hospital, Athens, Greece. gstergi@med.uoa.gr
Insights
Self-blood pressure measurements by patients or relatives show no difference compared to clinic readings. The setting, not the person measuring, influences lower home blood pressure readings.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Hypertension Management
- Medical Terminology
Background:
- 'Self-blood pressure' and 'home blood pressure' describe patient measurements taken at home.
- Home measurements may be performed by relatives, not solely by patients.
- Evidence on self-measurement's effect on automated blood pressure devices is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of self-measurement versus measurement by others on blood pressure readings.
- To determine if the person taking measurements affects blood pressure levels in clinic and home settings.
- To clarify the appropriate terminology for home blood pressure monitoring.
Main Methods:
- Review of studies comparing blood pressure measurements taken by physicians, patients, or relatives.
- Analysis of data from automated electronic devices in clinic and home settings.
- Inclusion of a randomized crossover trial on home blood pressure measurement.
Main Results:
- Clinic blood pressure measurements showed no difference whether taken by physicians or patients.
- Home blood pressure measurements showed no difference when taken by patients or their relatives.
- Home blood pressure readings were consistently lower than clinic readings.
Conclusions:
- Self-measurement does not significantly affect blood pressure levels in either clinic or home settings.
- The lower level of home blood pressure is attributed to the measurement setting, not the measurer.
- 'Home blood pressure' is a more accurate term than 'self blood pressure' for home measurements.
Abstract:
The terms 'self-blood pressure' and 'home blood pressure' are being used to describe measurements of blood pressure taken by the patients at home. However, home measurements are not always self-measurements, because these are often taken by the patients' relatives. There is little evidence on the effect of self-measurement on the level of blood pressure taken using automated electronic devices. In regard to clinic blood pressure, two studies using automated devices found no difference between measurements taken by physicians or patients themselves, irrespective of whether self-measurements were taken in the presence or the absence of the physician. In regard to home blood pressure, one randomized crossover trial showed no difference between home measurements taken by the patients themselves or their relatives using fully automated devices. On the other hand, many studies have consistently shown home blood pressure to be lower than clinic pressure. Taken together these data suggest that self-measurement has no effect on the level of blood pressure, either in the clinic, or at home. The lower level of home in comparison to clinic blood pressure seems to be exclusively attributed to the effect of the different setting, rather than the person who is taking measurements. Therefore the term 'self blood pressure' seems to be a misnomer, whereas the term 'home blood pressure' represents a more appropriate term for home measurements taken by patients or their relatives.
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