Blood pressure self monitoring: questions and answers from a national conference.

Self measurement of blood pressure was introduced in the 1930s and is now practised by almost 10% of the general population of the United Kingdom. Because blood pressure monitors are now readily available and cheap (as little as £10; €11.8; $15), self monitoring is likely to increase—in theUnitedStates andEurope up to two thirds of people with hypertension self monitor. At present we have insufficient evidence to make use of multiple blood pressure readings generated from home monitoring in clinical care. This review—which is based onavailable evidence fromrandomised trials, systematic reviews, and expert consensus—discusses the clinical importance of self measurement of blood pressure in establishing thediagnosis of hypertension, in subsequent titration of drugs, and in longer termmonitoring.