MEASUREMENT OF BLOOD-PRESSURE IN THE TECHNOLOGICAL AGE

Problems with conventional blood pressure measurement using the mercur y sphygmomanometer, related to both equipment and technique, are discu ssed. The effect of observer bias on the measuring procedure is also c onsidered. Blood pressure variability and the phenomenon of 'white coa t' hypertension are then described and their impact on the interpretat ion of hypertensive cardiovascular risk is emphasized. The potential r ole of electronic sphygmomanometers, and the use of ambulatory BP moni toring equipment, to overcome some of these problems is analysed. Tech nical factors both in use and interpretation of ambulatory BP data are considered, emphasizing the lack of prospective data and the difficul ties in defining a 'normal' range. The current role of such equipment in both research and clinical practice is defined.