Sensing the Pressure: Providing Evidence for Automated Blood Pressure Monitoring in Primary Care Practice
- UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Kara Fore-Flores (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
- Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
- Advisor
- Cheryl Wicker
Abstract: Background: Many primary care practices rely on manual blood pressure measurement (MOBP) for diagnosis and management of patients with hypertension, despite evidence and expert panel consensus in favor of automatic blood pressure monitoring (AOBP). Hypertension affects nearly half of adults in the United States and is directly linked to heart disease, stroke, and chronic kidney disease. Despite this, roughly 75% are not well-controlled. Diagnosis, and subsequent decisions regarding life-long pharmacologic treatment, are based solely on clinic blood pressure measurement, and thus accuracy is critical to appropriate management. Purpose: The purpose of this project is to optimize the accuracy of blood pressure measurement in a suburban primary care clinic that relies on manual blood pressure measurement. Methods: A set of two MOBP readings were collected on a group of 40 patients at different time points at the same visit. These data points were then analyzed, using a paired T-test, for significant variability between readings. Results, along with a literature review of current peer-reviewed evidence, were presented to the clinic to help them in their decision to purchase an automated blood pressure monitor. Results: Systolic blood pressure readings were significantly lower on the second reading. Diastolic blood pressure readings did not show a significant change. Recommendations & Conclusion: The results of this project exhibited significant variability in systolic blood pressure readings at one primary clinic after a rest period with MOBP. AOBP has been known for some time to be more closely correlated with home blood pressure readings; more prognostic of end-organ damage; less dependent on a rest period for accuracy; less impacted by “white coat hypertension;” and can be taken unattended, eliminating talking and observer effects. Additionally, it requires less skill and time to perform accurately. Recommendations are for clinics to obtain AOBP devices for use in diagnosis and management of patients with hypertension.
Sensing the Pressure: Providing Evidence for Automated Blood Pressure Monitoring in Primary Care Practice
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Created on 6/25/2024
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Other
- Language: English
- Date: 2024
- Keywords
- hypertension, automated blood pressure monitoring, manual blood pressure monitoring, auscultatory blood pressure monitoring, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, white coat hypertension, observer effect, blood pressure rest period