Authors' objectives:

Ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) and self-measured blood pressure (SMBP) monitoring are two techniques that record frequent BP outside of the clinic setting. The overall objective of this report was to summarize evidence on the clinical utility of ABP and SMBP monitoring.

Authors' results and conclusions: Eighteen studies compared clinic BP, SMBP, and/or ABP. For both systolic and diastolic BP, clinic measurements exceeded SMBP and ABP. Few studies compared SMBP and ABP. Sixteen studies determined the prevalence of white coat hypertension (WCH). Overall, WCH prevalence was approximately 20 percent among hypertensives but varied considerably by definition. Few studies assessed the reproducibility of WCH (two studies) or the reproducibility of differences between clinic BP and either ABP (one study). In cross-sectional studies of BP with left ventricular mass and/or albuminuria (25 studies), ABP levels were directly associated with both measurements; also, left ventricular mass was less in individuals with WCH than in those with sustained hypertension. Ten prospective studies assessed the relationship of ABP with subsequent clinical outcomes. In each study, at least one dimension of ABP predicted outcomes. WCH predicted a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events compared to sustained hypertension. However, data were inadequate to compare the risk associated with WCH to the risk associated with normotension. A nondipping or inverse dipping pattern predicted an increased risk of clinical outcomes. The literature was insufficient to determine whether absolute SMBP levels or WCH based on SMBP was associated with left ventricular mass or proteinuria (just one study) or whether SMBP measurements predicted subsequent CVD (just one study). In both cross-sectional and prospective studies, the poor or uncertain quality of clinic measurements precluded a satisfactory comparison of SMBP and ABP with clinic BP. Twelve trials assessed whether use of SMBP had an impact on BP control. In half of these studies, including two trials that tested contemporary devices, use of SMBP was associated with reduced BP. The availability of just two ABP trials limited inferences about the utility of ABP to guide BP management. In general, few studies reported enrollment of African-Americans. Studies infrequently reported results stratified by gender. The only notable subgroup finding was a higher prevalence of WCH in women than men.

Authors' recommendations: In cross-sectional studies, ABP levels and ABP patterns were associated with BP-related target organ damage. Likewise, in prospective studies, higher ABP, sustained BP, and a nondipping ABP pattern were associated with an increased risk of subsequent CVD events. Few studies examined corresponding relationships for SMBP. An inadequate number of clinic BP measurements, as well as the poor or uncertain quality of these measurements, precluded satisfactory comparisons of risk prediction based on ABP or SMBP with risk prediction based on clinic BP. In aggregate, these findings provide some evidence that ABP monitoring is useful in evaluating prognosis. However, evidence was insufficient to determine whether the risks associated with WCH are sufficiently low to consider withholding drug therapy in this large subgroup of hypertensive patients. For SMBP, available evidence suggested that use of SMBP can improve BP control; however, further trials that evaluate contemporary SMBP devices are needed.

Authors' methods: Systematic review

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/tp/utilbptp.htm

Year Published: 2002

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: United States

Organisation Name: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Contact Address: Center for Outcomes and Evidence Technology Assessment Program, 540 Gaither Road, Rockville, MD 20850, USA. Tel: +1 301 427 1610; Fax: +1 301 427 1639;

Contact Name: martin.erlichman@ahrq.hhs.gov

Contact Email: martin.erlichman@ahrq.hhs.gov

Copyright: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)