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Are recommended indications for ambulatory blood pressure monitoring followed in clinical practice?

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 22, pages 240–242 (2008)Cite this article

The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the adherence to European recommendations when ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is used in clinical practice taking account of ordering physician's qualification in two different periods of time, before and after publication of guidelines. There was no statistically significant difference between the periods in physicians' compliance to guidelines. From our observations, physicians appear to be independent in making decisions about care for their patients.

ABPM is increasingly used for the diagnosis and management of hypertension by general practitioners and specialists in both the USA and Europe. Its widespread use in clinical practice is questioned by some experts1, 2 because of its cost, and the issue becomes critical when ABPM is also considered for extended indications that include all subjects with office blood pressure (OBP) between 130/85 and 160/95 mm Hg.3 This diagnostic uncertainty range appears to include a mix of populations consisting of prehypertensives (or high-normal BP subjects), masked hypertensives, white coat (or isolated office) hypertensives and true sustained hypertensives,3 that is all subjects in whom ABPM appears to have a role in clinical decision-making. Moreover, most evaluation studies of ABPM effectiveness in clinical management do not take account of real everyday practice, where ABPM is not always performed according to the indications of international guidelines.4, 5

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardiology, Unit of Preventive Cardiology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy

    G Pannarale, R Licitra, V Basso, D Mutone, F Mirabelli, L Gianturco, A Pergolini, A Madeo & C Gaudio

  2. Department of Public Health Sciences, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy

    J F Osborn

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  1. G Pannarale
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  2. R Licitra
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  3. V Basso
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  4. D Mutone
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  5. F Mirabelli
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  6. L Gianturco
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  7. A Pergolini
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  8. A Madeo
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  9. J F Osborn
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  10. C Gaudio
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to G Pannarale.

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The authors do not have any conflict of interest and did not receive any financial support for this work.

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Pannarale, G., Licitra, R., Basso, V. et al. Are recommended indications for ambulatory blood pressure monitoring followed in clinical practice?. J Hum Hypertens 22, 240–242 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jhh.1002299

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