[FALSE POSITIVE AMBULATORY BLOOD PRESSURE MONITORING: CHALLENGES IN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS OF MASKED UNCONTROLLED...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Hypertension Management
• Diagnostic Accuracy

Background:

• Masked uncontrolled hypertension (MUCH) is underdiagnosed but linked to severe complications.
• Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is the gold standard for diagnosing hypertension, particularly MUCH.
• Limitations of ABPM, including false positives, are rarely discussed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a case of false-positive ABPM due to situational stress.
• To propose a strategy for improving ABPM accuracy by assessing patient stress levels before testing.

Main Methods:

• A case report detailing ABPM results.
• Comparison of ABPM readings obtained during stressful versus non-stressful conditions.
• Literature review on ABPM advantages and limitations.

Main Results:

• A patient initially presented with a positive ABPM result.
• Repeat ABPM in a non-stressful setting yielded normal blood pressure readings.
• This suggests stress can induce false-positive ABPM findings.

Conclusions:

• Situational stress can lead to false-positive ABPM results.
• Routine pre-test assessment for stressful situations is recommended.
• Implementing this strategy can enhance ABPM accuracy and prevent misdiagnosis.