[24-hour blood pressure profile: reproducibility of automatic ambulatory measurement]

Twelve patients (8 males, 4 females; mean age 53 [43-60] years) who were undergoing rehabilitation treatment after myocardial infarction were studied to ascertain the reproducibility of ambulatory automatic blood pressure measurements. All were in the last stage of a rehabilitation programme (tolerance to ordinary activity; symptom-free exercise at 75 W). Within two weeks 2, 3 or 4 blood-pressure profiles over 24 hours (total of 32 readings) were obtained by automatic measurement and the records and mean values were compared. Single mild stresses, such as gymnastic exercise or visit to the doctor, were identifiable on the records, but did not alter the overall profile or mean values. Normotensives, hypertensives and borderline hypertensives had 24-hour profiles which were nearly identical with regard to the curve "envelope", day-night profile and mean values in the individual patients. Mean values of diastolic and systolic pressures day by day in each patient showed no deviations greater than 5 mm Hg. Therapeutic measures were recognizable by parallel fall of the curve "envelope", as well as by a reduction in mean value.--At least in these selected patients a single 24-hour profile would in principle have sufficed to describe blood pressure behaviour.