Abstract
To determine how and how often blood pressure (BP) measurement is performed in health institutions. The researchers observed whether or not 84 physicians performed BP measurement. Immediately after BP measurement by the physician, this was repeated by the researchers in a manner compatible with HT guidelines. The physicians’ and researchers’ BP measurement results were compared. Physicians measured BP in only 37% (427) of 1130 consecutive patient examinations. None of the physicians “BP measurements were fully compatible with the guidelines” BP measurement recommendations. Physicians who performed measurements determined the same SBP and DBP as the researchers in 34.3% of patients. Hypertension was determined in 18.9% of patients in clinics in which BP measurement was not performed by physicians. Not all physicians in our study measured BP, and the great majority of those who did failed to measure it reliably. We think that it is therefore vitally important for physicians across the world to receive regular, repeated, and effective training in the importance of BP measurement and how to perform it correctly.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 digital issues and online access to articles
$119.00 per year
only $9.92 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Mancia G, Fagard R, Narkiewicz K, Redon J, Zanchetti A, Böhm M, et al. 2013 ESH/ESC practice guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension. Blood Press. 2014;23:3–16.
Sengul S, Akpolat T, Erdem Y, Derici U, Arici M, Sindel S, et al. Turkish Society of Hypertension and Renal Diseases. Changes in hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control rates in Turkey from 2003 to 2012. J Hypertens. 2016;34:1208–17.
Cheung BMY, Cheung TT. Nice new hypertension guidelines. World J Hypertens. 2012;2:45–9.
Pickering TG, Hall JE, Appel LJ, Falkner BE, Graves J, Hill MN, et al. Recommendations for blood pressure measurement in humans and experimental animals: Part 1: blood pressure measurement in humans: a statement for professionals from the Subcommittee of Professional and Public Education of the American Heart Association Council on High Blood Pressure Research. Hypertension. 2005;45:142–61.
James PA, Oparil S, Carter BL, Cushman WC, Dennison-Himmelfarb C, Handler J, et al. 2014 evidence-based guideline for the management of high blood pressure in adults: report from the panel members appointed to the Eighth Joint National Committee (JNC 8). JAMA. 2014;311:507–20.
Beevers G, Lip GY, O’Brien E. ABC of hypertension: blood pressure measurement. Part II-conventional sphygmomanometry: technique of auscultatory blood pressure measurement. BMJ. 2001;322:1043–7.
Thavarajah S, White WB, Mansoor GA. Terminal digit bias in a specialty hypertension faculty practice. J Hum Hypertens. 2003;17:819–22.
Petrie JC, O’Brien ET, Littler WA, de Swiet M. Recommendations on blood pressure measurement. Br Med J. 1986;293:611–5.
O’Brien E. A century of confusion: which bladder for accurate blood pressure measurement? J Hum Hypertens. 1996;10:565–72.
Cushman WC, Cooper KM, Horne RA, Meydrech EF. Effect of back support and stethoscope head on seated blood pressure determinations. Am J Hypertens. 1990;3:240–1.
Peters GL, Binder SK, Campbell NR. The effect of crossing legs on blood pressure: a randomized single-blind cross-over study. Blood Press Monit. 1999;4:97–101.
Netea RT, Lenders JW, Smits P, Thien T. Arm position is important for blood pressure measurement. J Hum Hypertens. 1999;13:105–9.
Mitchell PL, Parlin RW, Blackburn H. Effect of vertical displacement of the arm on indirect blood-pressure measurement. N Engl J Med. 1964;271:72–4.
King GE. Influence of rate of cuff inflation and deflation on observed blood pressure by sphygmomanometry. Am Heart J. 1963;65:303–6.
Thulin T, Andersson G, Schersten B. Measurement of blood pressure-a routine test in need of standardization. Postgrad Med J. 1975;51:390–5.
Villegas I, Arias IC, Botero A, Escobar A. Evaluation of the technique used by health-care workers for taking blood pressure. Hypertension. 1995;26:1204–6.
Sebo P, Pechère-Bertschi A, Herrmann FR, Haller DM, Bovier P. Blood pressure measurements are unreliable to diagnose hypertension in primary care. J Hypertens. 2014;32:509–17.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ulusoy, Ş., Özkan, G., Güvercin, B. et al. Do physicians measure patients’ blood pressure, and are those measurements reliable?. J Hum Hypertens 32, 203–211 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41371-018-0032-7
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41371-018-0032-7
This article is cited by
-
Concept, hardware development, and clinical trials of a Galinstan based Mercury free sphygmomanometer: Merkfree
Scientific Reports (2022)
-
Which out-of-office measurement technique should be used for diagnosing hypertension in prehypertensives?
Journal of Human Hypertension (2020)