Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring

During the past decade, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring has risen rapidly as a diagnostic technique used in clinical research trials and, more recently, in clinical practice. Blood pressure monitors have become smaller, technologically improved, and quiet during recordings--all features that have increased patient compliance. During the past year, research has focused on establishing population norms for ambulatory blood pressure levels, improving methods of validating devices, enhancing our ability to reduce the ambulatory blood pressure data and provide clinically meaningful methods of statistical analysis, and evaluating the role of blood pressure monitoring in the management of hypertension in ambulatory care.