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Ambulatory blood pressure normalcy: the PAMELA Study
G Cesana1, G De Vito, M Ferrario
1Istituto di Clinica Medica Generale e Terapia Medica, Università di Milano, Italy.
Summary
This study introduces the PAMELA study design for evaluating ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) in a large population. It aims to establish reference values for diagnosing hypertension using 24-hour ABPM.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is increasingly used but has limitations for hypertension diagnosis.
- Current methods for establishing normal ABPM values often rely on small 'normal' subject groups.
- A robust epidemiological approach is needed to define reference values for 24-hour ABPM.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct an epidemiological evaluation of 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure values.
- To establish reliable reference values for diagnosing hypertension using ABPM.
- To compare 24-hour ABPM with clinic blood pressure in a large, randomly selected population.
Main Methods:
- The PAMELA Study randomly selected 2400 subjects aged 25-64 in Monza, Italy.
- Participants were stratified by sex and age according to WHO-MONICA criteria.
- Measurements included clinic BP, 24-hour ABPM, home BP, ECG, echocardiography, risk factors, and psychological variables.
Main Results:
- Data collection is ongoing; specific results are not yet available.
- The study design facilitates comparison between different blood pressure measurement methods.
- The large sample size and comprehensive data collection will allow for robust epidemiological analysis.
Conclusions:
- The PAMELA Study design is robust for evaluating 24-hour ABPM.
- This study will provide crucial epidemiological data for hypertension diagnosis and management.
- Establishing population-specific reference values for ABPM is essential for clinical practice.