ERRORS IN ASSESSMENT OF BLOOD-PRESSURE - PATIENT FACTORS

This article reviews patient-related factors affecting blood pressure measurement and provides the scientific rationale underlying current r ecommendations for the measurement of blood pressure in the evaluation of hypertension. Information is included on the magnitude of errors t hat can occur when the recommendations are not followed. A variety of factors relating to the patient's emotions, activity, bodily function and environment cause blood pressure to fluctuate throughout the day s uch that peak systolic and diastolic blood pressures are often twice a s high as trough levels. Many physicians fail to account for these fac tors when assessing a patient's blood pressure. Errors in the classifi cation and treatment of a patient's blood pressure and the finding of labile blood pressure can occur often when patients are not adequately prepared in advance of the blood pressure measurement.