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[Does ambulatory blood pressure measurement allow a better definition of arterial hypertension?]
X Warling1, P G Carlier, J M Krzesinski
1CHU Sart Tilman, Université de Liège.
Insights
Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) offers a reproducible method for diagnosing hypertension. This study highlights its potential to improve cardiovascular risk assessment by revealing discrepancies with traditional blood pressure measurements.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Hypertension Research
- Diagnostic Tools
Background:
- Mild hypertension treatment has shown limited impact on coronary heart disease, necessitating improved diagnostic methods.
- Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is an emerging technique for hypertension diagnosis.
- A lack of reference values in normotensive individuals restricts the utility of current ABPM devices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish reference values for ambulatory blood pressure (PAA) in normotensive and hypertensive individuals.
- To compare PAA with blood pressure measured during medical examination (PAC).
- To investigate the relationship between PAA-PAC differences, PAA variability, and patient demographics.
Main Methods:
- Ambulatory blood pressure was recorded in 24 normotensive, 22 untreated hypertensive, and 45 treated hypertensive patients.
- PAA data were compared with PAC measurements.
- The correlation between PAA-PAC differences and PAA variability was analyzed.
Main Results:
- A good correlation was observed between PAA and PAC, but significant, unpredictable discordances were frequent.
- No correlation was found between PAA-PAC differences and PAA variability.
- PAA variability increased with age and blood pressure levels.
- Ambulatory blood pressure measurements demonstrated high reproducibility.
Conclusions:
- Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring provides a reproducible measure that can enhance hypertension definition.
- ABPM has the potential to improve cardiovascular risk stratification.
- Further research is needed to fully integrate ABPM into clinical practice for better hypertension management.
Abstract:
The lack of effect of treatment of mild hypertension on the coronary heart disease has motivated researches for a better diagnosis of hypertension. One of the approaches presently under study uses the recording of ambulatory blood pressure using semi-automatic devices. The usefulness of these apparatus is however restricted by the lack of reference values recorded in normotensive control patients. We have recorded ambulatory blood pressure (PAA) in 24 normotensives, 22 untreated hypertensives and 45 treated hypertensive patients, and compared the data obtained to the blood pressure recorded during medical examination (PAC). If a good correlation is usually observed between PAA and PAC, very large and unpredictable discordances are frequently observed. No correlation is found between the difference PAA-PAC and the variability of PAA. This variability does not fully explain the difference observed between PAA and PAC. This variability expressed in mmHg increases with age and the level of BP. Ambulatory BP appears to be a very reproducible value which may allow to improve the definition of hypertension and there-fore the cardiovascular risk.