People With Hypertension Most Often Wrong When Testing Their Own Blood Pressure
People With Hypertension Most Often Wrong When Testing Their Own Blood Pressure
Dec. 24, 1999 (Atlanta) -- A new study from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) shows that people can and should be able to take their own blood pressure (BP) measurements -- that is, if they don't have a history of hypertension.
The study found that most self-reported BP and heart rate (HR) readings were often identical to the electronically stored measurements taken by a professional -- in those people who had normal BP. However, the study also found that erroneous reporting occurred much more frequently in people with high BP and HR who also took their own measurements.
In other words, for those people most in need of blood pressure and heart rate monitoring, results were most inaccurate. "False reporting of uncontrolled pressures may misguide physicians in the optimal medical treatment of their patients with hypertension, which could result in worse patient outcomes," writes co-author Kjel A. Johnson, a pharmacist formerly with UPMC.
Twenty-nine subjects suffering from hypertension, with an average age of 56, volunteered for the study. A little more than half of the subjects were women. Each subject recorded their systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and HR three times per day for a week for a total of 21 measurements. The systolic pressure is the pressure of the blood flow when the heart beats. The diastolic pressure is the pressure between heartbeats.
The subjects used new home BP monitors purchased for the study. The digital, automatic BP monitor is capable of electronically storing up to 350 BP measurements. The monitors consisted of rubber tubing, cuff, inflatable bladder, and digital display.
The monitors were programmed with the participant's name and identification number before the first visit and were fitted with an appropriate-sized cuff. Subjects were unaware that the home BP monitor electronically stored the BP and HR results.
In the test, 68% of the measurements taken by the subjects matched the electronically stored results. However, researchers found that 20% of recorded systolic measurements and 17% of recorded diastolic measurements differed considerably from the stored readings. In cases where the stored HR exceeded 100 beats per minute, 43% of HR readings were recorded as below that. All told, incorrect reporting was reported in 9% of the subjects.
People With Hypertension Most Often Wrong When Testing Their Own Blood Pressure
Dec. 24, 1999 (Atlanta) -- A new study from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) shows that people can and should be able to take their own blood pressure (BP) measurements -- that is, if they don't have a history of hypertension.
The study found that most self-reported BP and heart rate (HR) readings were often identical to the electronically stored measurements taken by a professional -- in those people who had normal BP. However, the study also found that erroneous reporting occurred much more frequently in people with high BP and HR who also took their own measurements.
In other words, for those people most in need of blood pressure and heart rate monitoring, results were most inaccurate. "False reporting of uncontrolled pressures may misguide physicians in the optimal medical treatment of their patients with hypertension, which could result in worse patient outcomes," writes co-author Kjel A. Johnson, a pharmacist formerly with UPMC.
Twenty-nine subjects suffering from hypertension, with an average age of 56, volunteered for the study. A little more than half of the subjects were women. Each subject recorded their systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and HR three times per day for a week for a total of 21 measurements. The systolic pressure is the pressure of the blood flow when the heart beats. The diastolic pressure is the pressure between heartbeats.
The subjects used new home BP monitors purchased for the study. The digital, automatic BP monitor is capable of electronically storing up to 350 BP measurements. The monitors consisted of rubber tubing, cuff, inflatable bladder, and digital display.
The monitors were programmed with the participant's name and identification number before the first visit and were fitted with an appropriate-sized cuff. Subjects were unaware that the home BP monitor electronically stored the BP and HR results.
In the test, 68% of the measurements taken by the subjects matched the electronically stored results. However, researchers found that 20% of recorded systolic measurements and 17% of recorded diastolic measurements differed considerably from the stored readings. In cases where the stored HR exceeded 100 beats per minute, 43% of HR readings were recorded as below that. All told, incorrect reporting was reported in 9% of the subjects.