Evaluation of blood pressure control by repeated ambulatory automatic blood pressure measurements

The aim of this study was to compare the evaluation of blood pressure contr ol in using an automatic blood pressure device (ABPD) and an ambulatory blo od pressure measurement (ABPM). Method: 41 patients with essential hypertension (HTA) were screened prospec tively from April to June 2000 (22 men and 19 female) mean age 63 years old , 2,6 antihypertensive drug per patient). The blood pressure was randomly measure by 2 physicians with an automatic b lood pressure device OMRON 705 CR 3 times. All the patients had a 24 hours ABPM in the month before and after this measure, without change in medicati on. Results: The mean blood pressure measured was 151/81 mmHg by the first phys ician, 149/85 mmHg with the physician observer and 131/81 mmHg with the ABP M. The percentage of patient who have an optimal control was significatively l ess in the ABPD estimation (27% <140/90 mmHg) than ABPM (Day ABPM < 135/85 mmHg=51%). In conclusion, the control of hypertension still remains insufficiency even if the utilisation of ABPM may increase the accurency of that estimation.