Confirmatory blood pressure measurements should be conducted outside the clinical setting
TUESDAY, Oct. 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends blood pressure screening for adults and use of confirmatory blood pressure measurement outside the clinic setting. These findings form the basis of a review and recommendation statement published online Oct. 12 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Daichi Shimbo, M.D., from the Columbia University Medical Center in New York City, and colleagues reviewed the evidence relating to blood pressure screening and the role of ambulatory and home blood pressure monitoring.
The researchers note that adults aged 18 to 39 years at average risk should be screened for high blood pressure every three to five years. Annual screening is recommended for adults aged 40 years and older or for those at increased risk. The USPSTF recommends that before treatment is started, measurements should be obtained outside a clinical setting. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring should be considered a reference standard for confirming elevated blood pressure; less evidence supports the use of home blood pressure monitoring.
“Diagnosing high blood pressure, and treating it appropriately, is critical for reducing a patient’s risk of strokes, heart attacks, and other adverse health outcomes,” task force member Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, Ph.D., M.D., said in a statement. “Confirmation with blood pressure measurement outside of the office is an important step to ensure that we are carefully and accurately diagnosing this condition.”
Two of the review authors disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry.
Evidence Review
Recommendation Statement
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