Comparison of Various Blood Pressure Measurement Techniques with Standard Office Based Blood Pressure Mesurement

Introduction: In order to control Hypertension, it is necessary to understand the methods of blood pressure measurement. Recent guidelines emphasize on employing appropriate blood pressure measurement techniques and white coat hypertension. Definition and methods of blood pressure measurement have changed in the American guideline based on SPRINT trial (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial), though Europeans still insist on the standard method of office blood pressure measurement. The differences made by SPRINT method are not fully understood yet. This article compares the measurements done by mercury sphygmomanometers and digital devices, and also evaluates the effect of applying the SPRINT method on these readings. Method: 87 patients were enrolled in this study, For all of whom blood pressure was measured in a quiet room after 5 minutes of resting for 3 times (using an automated device for the first 2 times and a mercury sphygmomanometer for the third time). The mean of them was considered as SPRINT like blood pressure. The results were compared to the measurements done by a cardiologist and a nurse using an automated device at the same visit. Result: Office based SBPs were about 8.47 mmHg higher than SPRINT like measurements (p<0.001). Diastolic blood pressures were about 7.05 mmHg higher in office (p<0.001). Conclusion: the methods employed to measure the blood pressure have a pivotal effect on the results. It seems that further studying is needed in this field in Iran.