[Information deficits concerning blood pressure self-measurement]

Blood pressure values resulting from measurements by the patients themselves have greater diagnostic and prognostic significance than those measured by the physician, assuming, however, that measurement is taken correctly. As self-measurement of blood pressure has meanwhile become a widespread practice. The question arises to what extent the rules on exact measurement of blood pressure are known to the patient.

The answers to questions on five rules on self-measurement of blood pressure (resting period prior to measurement, time of measurement and intake of morning medication, left or right arm for measurement, level of measuring point and width of cuff) given by 500 hypertensive patients (373 men, 127 women, mean age 59.2 +/- 10.2 years) were evaluated.

Three patients only were in the position to answer all five questions correctly. 19 % were unable to give any right answer. Patients showed highest information levels concerning the resting period before measurement. Approximately half of them (51 %) knew that a pause of three minutes has to be kept. Only one in three, however, was familiar with the fact that morning measurement has to be taken prior to the intake of antihypertensives (32 %) choosing the arm that shows higher blood pressure values. 28 % were informed that the measuring point has to lie at the height of the heart. Only 4 % were able to answer the question on the width of the cuff correctly.

Our findings show that the rules on correct self-measurement of blood pressure are unknown to most of the hypertensive patients. This may be due to the fact that they are insufficiently informed and trained.