Age-dependent association of cannabis use with risk of psychotic disorder.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiologic research suggests that youth cannabis use is associated with psychotic disorders. However, current evidence is based heavily on 20th-century data when cannabis was substantially less potent than today. METHODS: We linked population-based survey data from 2009 to 2012 with records of health services covered under universal healthcare in Ontario, Canada, up to 2018. The cohort included respondents aged 12-24 years at baseline with no prior psychotic disorder (N = 11 363). The primary outcome was days to first hospitalization, ED visit, or outpatient visit related to a psychotic disorder according to validated diagnostic codes. Due to non-proportional hazards, we estimated age-specific hazard ratios during adolescence (12-19 years) and young adulthood (20-33 years). Sensitivity analyses explored alternative model conditions including restricting the outcome to hospitalizations and ED visits to increase specificity. RESULTS: Compared to no cannabis use, cannabis use was significantly associated with psychotic disorders during adolescence (aHR = 11.2; 95% CI 4.6-27.3), but not during young adulthood (aHR = 1.3; 95% CI 0.6-2.6). When we restricted the outcome to hospitalizations and ED visits only, the strength of association increased markedly during adolescence (aHR = 26.7; 95% CI 7.7-92.8) but did not change meaningfully during young adulthood (aHR = 1.8; 95% CI 0.6-5.4). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides new evidence of a strong but age-dependent association between cannabis use and risk of psychotic disorder, consistent with the neurodevelopmental theory that adolescence is a vulnerable time to use cannabis. The strength of association during adolescence was notably greater than in previous studies, possibly reflecting the recent rise in cannabis potency.

Sex-Specific Association of Alcohol Use Disorder With Suicide Mortality: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Importance: Despite individual studies suggesting that sex differences exist in the association between alcohol use disorder (AUD) and suicide, most existing systematic reviews and meta-analyses have reported associations across the sexes. Objective: To estimate the sex-specific association between AUD and suicide mortality. Data Sources: Embase, MEDLINE (including MEDLINE In-Process), PsycINFO, PubMed, and Web of Science were searched from database inception to April 27, 2022. Study Selection: Inclusion criteria consisted of the following: (1) original, quantitative study, (2) inclusion of a measure of association and its corresponding measure of variability (or sufficient data to calculate these [eg, 95% CI]), and (3) results stratified by sex. Data Extraction and Synthesis: Data extraction was completed by one reviewer and then cross-checked by a second reviewer. Risk of bias was assessed by study design. Categorical random-effects meta-analyses were conducted to obtain sex-specific pooled estimates of the association between AUD and suicide mortality risk. Methodological moderators (ie, study design and comparator group) were assessed using sex-stratified meta-regressions. Main Outcomes and Measures: The association between AUD and suicide mortality. Results: A total of 16 347 unique records were identified in the systematic search; 24 studies were ultimately included for 37 870 699 participants (59.7% male and 40.3% female) (23 risk estimates for male and 17 for female participants). Participants ranged in age from 15 years to 65 years or older. Sex-specific meta-regression models indicated that study design (ie, longitudinal vs cross-sectional study design) affected the observed association between AUD and suicide mortality for both male participants (log odds ratio, 0.68 [95% CI, 0.08-1.28]; P = .03) and female participants (log odds ratio, 1.41 [95% CI, 0.57-2.24]; P < .001). For males and females, among longitudinal studies, the pooled odds ratios were 2.68 (95% CI, 1.86-3.87; I2 = 99% [n = 14]) and 2.39 (95% CI, 1.50-3.81; I2 = 90% [n = 11]), respectively. Conclusions and Relevance: This systematic review and meta-analysis yielded substantive evidence that AUD was associated with suicide mortality and that the association was similar across the sexes. The findings underscore the importance of identifying and treating AUD as part of a comprehensive suicide prevention strategy.

Youth cannabis use and subsequent health service use for mood and anxiety disorders: A population-based cohort study.

Epidemiologic research suggests a modest association between youth cannabis use and mood and anxiety disorders (MADs). However, current evidence is based mostly on cohort studies using data from the 20th century when cannabis was significantly less potent than today. We linked population-based survey data from 2009 to 2012 with administrative records of health services covered under universal healthcare up to 2017. The cohort included youth aged 12 to 24 years at baseline living in Ontario, Canada with no prior MAD health service use (n = 8,252). We conducted a multivariable Cox model to estimate the association between cannabis use frequency (never,

Prophylaxis for paediatric emergence delirium in desflurane-based anaesthesia: a network meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: The prevalence of postoperative emergence delirium in paediatric patients (pedED) following desflurane anaesthesia is considerably high at 50-80%. Although several pharmacological prophylactic strategies have been introduced to reduce the risk of pedED, conclusive evidence about the superiority of these individual regimens is lacking. The aim of the current study was to assess the potential prophylactic effect and safety of individual pharmacotherapies in the prevention of pedED following desflurane anaesthesia. METHODS: This frequentist model network meta-analysis (NMA) of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) included peer-reviewed RCTs of either placebo-controlled or active-controlled design in paediatric patients under desflurane anaesthesia. RESULTS: Seven studies comprising 573 participants were included. Overall, the ketamine + propofol administration [odds ratio (OR) = 0.05, 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) 0.01-0.33], dexmedetomidine alone (OR = 0.13, 95%CIs 0.05-0.31), and propofol administration (OR = 0.30, 95%CIs 0.10-0.91) were associated with a significantly lower incidence of pedED than the placebo/control groups. In addition, only gabapentin and dexmedetomidine were associated with a significantly higher improvement in the severity of emergence delirium than the placebo/control groups. Finally, the ketamine + propofol administration was associated with the lowest incidence of pedED, whereas gabapentin was associated with the lowest severity of pedED among all of the pharmacologic interventions studied. CONCLUSIONS: The current NMA showed that ketamine + propofol administration was associated with the lowest incidence of pedED among all of the pharmacologic interventions studied. Future large-scale trials to more fully elucidate the comparative benefits of different combination regimens are warranted. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42021285200.

Alcohol use and the gender-specific risk of suicidal behavior: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol use is an important risk factor for suicidal behavior, with a heightened risk found among women. The objective of this study is to determine the gender-specific risk of suicidal behaviors (suicide attempt and death by suicide) for different levels and dimensions of alcohol use-i.e., for (1) average alcohol volume consumed, (2) binge drinking, and (3) individuals with an alcohol use disorder. METHODS: We will systematically search the available literature for primary studies on the risk relationships specified above. Using a predetermined set of keywords, a comprehensive systematic literature search will be conducted in the following electronic databases: Embase, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Web of Science. The basic inclusion criteria will be (1) an original, quantitative (cohort, case-control or cross-sectional) study; with (2) a measure of risk of at least one dimension of our alcohol exposures in relation to at least one of our outcomes of interest (suicide attempt or death by suicide), and its corresponding measure of variability is reported (or sufficient data to calculate these); and (3) estimates of risk stratified by gender. Studies (1) that use only qualitative labels of alcohol use, and (2) where suicide attempt and non-suicidal self-harm cannot be disaggregated will be excluded. There will be no restrictions on language, geographical region, or year of publication. Two reviewers will independently perform the search and systematic assessment of each identified study and subsequent extraction of data. Categorical random-effects meta-analyses will be conducted to obtain gender-specific pooled risk estimates. Risk of bias will be assessed using the Risk of Bias In Non-randomised Studies-of Interventions tool and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach will be used to rate the quality of evidence. DISCUSSION: This study will synthesize all available data on the gender-specific relationship between various dimensions of alcohol use and suicidal behavior simultaneously in a coherent framework. We will provide risk estimates with the detail needed to better understand the respective risk relationships and appreciate the burden of alcohol-attributable suicide. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42022320918.

Socioeconomic status, alcohol use disorders, and depression: A population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Depressive disorders (DD) and alcohol use disorders (AUD) frequently co-occur. They are key to understanding the current increases in "deaths of despair" among individuals with lower socioeconomic status (SES). The aim of this study was to assess the prospective bidirectional associations between AUD and DD, as well as the effect of SES on these two conditions. METHODS: The National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions is a cohort study representative of the US adult population, which began in 2001-2002, with follow-up interviews conducted 3 years later. SES was primarily operationalized as educational attainment. AUD, DD, and their levels of severity were defined according to the DSM-5 criteria. RESULTS: The risk of developing an incident DD increased gradually with the recency and the severity of AUD at baseline, but the converse was not observed. Lower SES was an independent risk for incident AUD or DD. SES did not modify the prospective association between AUD and DD. LIMITATIONS: The absence of interaction between SES and moderate or severe AUD for the incident DD must be considered with caution due to the limited number of DD cases reported in these AUD categories. CONCLUSIONS: This result is consistent with a causal relationship between AUD and DD, and suggests that therapeutic interventions for AUD may also have beneficial effects to lower DD rates. The independent effects of a lower SES and AUD on DD may result in a vulnerable population cumulating disorders with heavy consequences on health and social well-being.

Efficacy of pharmacologic treatment in tinnitus patients without specific or treatable origin: A network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Although tinnitus has a prevalence between 20 and 42.8%, the currently recommended management for tinnitus, such as tinnitus support and psychologic therapies, are relatively time-consuming and expensive. Several new pharmacologic treatments designed for tinnitus patients without specific origin had been developed but their efficacy remains unclear. METHODS: The current Network Meta-Analysis (NMA) of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of different pharmacologic treatments for tinnitus management in tinnitus patients without specific or treatable origin (i.e. primary tinnitus). Databases were searched from inception to April 5th, 2021. All network meta-analytic procedures were conducted under the frequentist model. We calculated the effect size of outcomes with different rating scales with standardized mean difference. PROSPERO registration: CRD42020177742. FINDINGS: Overall, 36 RCTs were included with 2,761 participants. The main results revealed that pharmacologic interventions with brain-acting effect (for example, amitriptyline, acamprosate, and gabapentin) and those with anti-inflammation/anti-oxidant effect (for example, intra-tympanic dexamethasone injection plus oral melatonin) were associated with superior improvement in tinnitus severity and response rate compared to placebo/control. Oral amitriptyline were associated with the highest improvement in tinnitus severity and the fourth highest response rate. None of the investigated interventions was associated with different changes in quality of life compared to placebo/control. All the investigated treatments were associated with similar drop-out rate to placebo/control. INTERPRETATION: The current NMA suggests a potential role for treatments with brain-acting effect (for example, amitriptyline, acamprosate, and gabapentin) or anti-inflammation/anti-oxidant effect (for example, intra-tympanic dexamethasone injection plus oral melatonin) as the preferable effective treatments for tinnitus without specific or treatable origin. FUNDING: none.

Alcohol's Impact on the Cardiovascular System.

Alcohol consumption has been shown to have complex, and sometimes paradoxical, associations with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Several hundred epidemiological studies on this topic have been published in recent decades. In this narrative review, the epidemiological evidence will be examined for the associations between alcohol consumption, including average alcohol consumption, drinking patterns, and alcohol use disorders, and CVDs, including ischaemic heart disease, stroke, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, cardiomyopathy, and heart failure. Methodological shortcomings, such as exposure classification and measurement, reference groups, and confounding variables (measured or unmeasured) are discussed. Based on systematic reviews and meta-analyses, the evidence seems to indicate non-linear relationships with many CVDs. Large-scale longitudinal epidemiological studies with multiple detailed exposure and outcome measurements, and the extensive assessment of genetic and confounding variables, are necessary to elucidate these associations further. Conflicting associations depending on the exposure measurement and CVD outcome are hard to reconcile, and make clinical and public health recommendations difficult. Furthermore, the impact of alcohol on other health outcomes needs to be taken into account. For people who drink alcohol, the less alcohol consumed the better.

Association of pharmacological prophylaxis with the risk of pediatric emergence delirium after sevoflurane anesthesia: An updated network meta-analysis.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: This updated network meta-analysis aims at exploring whether the concurrent use of midazolam or antiemetics may enhance the efficacy of other pharmacological regimens for delirium prophylaxis in pediatric population after general anesthesia (GA). DESIGN: Network meta-analysis (PROSPERO registration: CRD42020179483). SETTING: Postoperative recovery area. PATIENTS: Pediatric patients undergoing GA with sevoflurane. INTERVENTIONS: Pharmacological interventions applied during GA with sevoflurane. MEASUREMENTS: This network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted with a frequentist model. PubMed, Embase, ProQuest, ScienceDirect, Cochrane CENTRAL, ClinicalKey, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched from their inception dates to April 12, 2020, for RCTs of either placebo-controlled or active-controlled design containing information on the incidence of emergence delirium in pediatric patients undergoing sevoflurane anesthesia. MAIN RESULTS: Seventy studies comprising 6904 participants were included for the analysis of 30 pharmacological interventions. Based on surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) analysis, midazolam was ranked the lowest in therapeutic effect (SUCRA: 20%), while antiemetics as a monotherapy had no effect on delirium prophylaxis. However, there was a trend that most combination therapies with midazolam or antiemetics were superior to monotherapies for delirium prophylaxis. Subgroup analyses based on age (i.e., ≤7 years) and a validated scoring system (i.e., the Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium scale) for delirium also suggested a better efficacy of combination therapies than monotherapies. Overall, combination therapies with midazolam or antiemetics did not have a negative impact on the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting, length of stay in the postanesthesia care unit, or time to extubation. The dexmedetomidine-midazolam-antiemetic combination was the most effective strategy for the prevention of emergence delirium. CONCLUSIONS: This network meta-analysis suggested that the incorporation of midazolam or antiemetics as adjuncts for combination therapies may have synergistic effects against pediatric postoperative emergence delirium. Future large-scale placebo-controlled RCTs are warranted to validate our findings.

Driving under the influence of cannabis risk perceptions and behaviour: A population-based study in Ontario, Canada.

Driving under the influence of cannabis (DUIC) is detrimental to road safety. Risk perception is a strong determinant of DUIC behaviour, yet little is known about the factors influencing DUIC risk perception in the general population. The objective of this study was to identify factors associated with risk perceptions of motor vehicle collision and legal consequences due to DUIC and examine whether these perceptions were associated with DUIC behaviour. Data were derived from the 2017 CAMH Monitor, a cross-sectional telephone survey of adults aged 18+ years in Ontario, Canada (n = 1813). Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. Approximately 90% of adults overall agreed that DUIC increases motor vehicle collision risk compared to 55% of those reporting past-year DUIC. Being male, less educated, and using cannabis at least monthly were associated with disagreeing that DUIC increases motor vehicle collision risk. Being male, young, and using cannabis at least monthly were associated with agreeing that DUIC is safer than driving under the influence of alcohol (DUIA). Being male and using cannabis less than monthly were associated with agreeing that the chances of getting caught for DUIC are higher than DUIA. Safety but not legal risk perceptions were associated with DUIC behaviour among cannabis-using drivers. Cannabis legalization provides a timely opportunity for DUIC prevention strategies. This study suggests that policymakers should target male cannabis users and highlight the safety risks of DUIC. Further research is needed to assess the effectiveness of prevention measures and the impact of cannabis legalization on DUIC perceptions and behaviour.

Adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms and psychological distress, hazardous drinking, and problem gambling: A population-based study.

Recognition of ADHD in the adult population is relatively recent. Epidemiological research examining the mental health impact of ADHD in adulthood is thus limited. The objective of this study was to examine whether adult ADHD symptoms are associated with psychological distress, hazardous drinking, and problem gambling, after controlling for traumatic brain injury and sociodemographic characteristics. We analyzed data from a population-based survey administered in 2015 and 2016 to adults aged 18 years and over in Ontario, Canada (N = 3,817). Logistic regression was used to construct unadjusted and multivariable models for each of the three focal relationships. In the unadjusted models, ADHD symptoms were significantly related to psychological distress (OR = 9.3; 95% CI:6.1, 14.0) and hazardous drinking (OR = 2.1; 95% CI: 1.3, 3.4), but not to problem gambling (OR = 1.5; 0.5, 4.3). After adjustment, ADHD symptoms were significantly related to psychological distress (OR = 7.1; 95% CI: 4.6, 11.1), but not hazardous drinking (OR = 1.4; 95% CI: 0.8, 2.5) or problem gambling (OR = 0.6; 95% CI: 0.2, 2.5). This study further highlights the importance of clinicians assessing for concomitant ADHD and psychological distress in adults.

Attended versus unattended automated office blood pressure measurement in the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension.

: The main advantage of automated office (AO)BP in hypertension screening is that it eliminates white-coat effect seen in routine office practice, with readings similar to awake ambulatory (A)BP. Recent studies examining the possible equivalence between AOBP recorded with and without research staff present have reported attended systolic AOBP to be 5.8 mmHg higher. Moreover, attended automated SBP readings in 27 211 patients in clinical practice were 25 mmHg higher than awake ABP. These data are consistent with the presence of staff increasing AOBP. In research studies, all types of office BP measurement at target SBP less than 130 mmHg were generally lower than awake ABP, whereas, in clinical practice, attended automated office BP was slightly higher than awake ABP. However, AOBP may still be preferred, if target BP is to be similar to 24-h ABP. Further research is needed to determine the optimum technique for recording office BP at target.

Brief Interventions for Cannabis Use in Healthcare Settings: Systematic Review and Meta-analyses of Randomized Trials.

OBJECTIVES: The efficacy of brief interventions for cannabis use was assessed in a systematic review and meta-analyses. METHODS: Systematic searches in academic databases were conducted, and reference lists of included studies were reviewed. Randomized trials were included that compared brief interventions with minimal control interventions for improving cannabis-specific outcomes among participants recruited from healthcare settings. Mean differences (MDs) based on change-from-baseline measurements were pooled using random-effects meta-analyses, with stratification by short term (≤3 months) and long term (>3 months). RESULTS: Ten reports from 9 studies were included. Most studies were conducted in the United States, including participants who were adults and were recruited from primary care or emergency departments. There were no significant effects of brief interventions on cannabis-specific Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) scores in the short term (MD -1.27 points; 95% confidence interval [CI] -3.75, 1.21; I 84.40%). The null pattern of findings was also observed for number of days of cannabis use in the past 30 days in the short term (MD -0.22 days; 95% CI -2.27, 1.82; I 60.30%) and long term (MD -0.28 days; 95% CI -2.42, 1.86; I 60.50%). The evidence base for other outcomes not subjected to meta-analyses was limited and mixed. CONCLUSIONS: Brief interventions did not result in reductions in cannabis-specific ASSIST scores or number of days of cannabis use, whereas the evidence base for other outcomes was limited and mixed. As such, brief interventions in healthcare settings may not be efficacious for cannabis use.

Association of Tobacco Use and Exposure to Secondhand Smoke With Suicide Attempts Among Adolescents: Findings From 33 Countries.

INTRODUCTION: There is evidence to suggest that tobacco use is associated with suicide attempts. However, it is unclear whether such an association can be extended to include secondhand smoke exposure. Using nationally representative data of school-attending adolescents from 33 countries, we examined the association of tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke with suicide attempts. METHODS: We used data from the Global School-based Student Health Survey, a cross-sectional survey conducted among adolescents 12-15 years of age. We used logistic regression to estimate the country-specific associations. We then conducted random effect meta-analyses to obtain overall and country-income level pooled estimates. Lastly, we used logistic regression analyses to investigate a dose-response association of cigarette smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke with suicide attempts. RESULTS: A positive association between tobacco use and suicide attempts among adolescents was present regardless of country-income level (low income: odds ratio 4.98, 95% CI: 3.11-7.96; lower middle income: 3.47, 2.91-4.15; upper middle income: 3.09, 2.75-3.47; and high income: 3.18, 2.63-3.84) and gender (boys: 3.28, 2.86-3.76; girls: 3.86, 3.30-4.51). Exposure to secondhand smoke was associated with suicide attempts, albeit weakly, among girls only (1.26, 1.14-1.39; boys: 1.00, 0.87-1.15). There was some evidence that a dose-response association of cigarette smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke with suicide attempts may only exist among girls. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents who use tobacco, and adolescent girls exposed to secondhand smoke were found to be more likely to attempt suicide; however, future longitudinal studies are warranted to assess causality. IMPLICATIONS: Our findings indicate that routine screening of adolescents for tobacco use should be implemented globally, especially when assessing suicidal behaviors and risk. Future longitudinal and intervention studies are warranted to assess causality and whether prevention efforts such as tobacco control interventions and programmes targeting tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke among adolescents could ultimately lead to a reduction in the occurrence of suicide attempts.

La CIE debería de eliminar la especificación etiológica en la mayoría de diagnósticos atribuibles al alcohol / For most fully alcohol-attributable diagnoses in the ICD, the etiological specification should be removed

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Alcohol Consumption and Risk of Liver Cirrhosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To systematically summarize the risk relationship between different levels of alcohol consumption and incidence of liver cirrhosis. METHODS: MEDLINE and Embase were searched up to March 6, 2019, to identify case-control and cohort studies with sex-specific results and more than 2 categories of drinking in relation to the incidence of liver cirrhosis. Study characteristics were extracted and random-effects meta-analyses and meta-regressions were conducted. RESULTS: A total of 7 cohort studies and 2 case-control studies met the inclusion criteria, providing data from 2,629,272 participants with 5,505 cases of liver cirrhosis. There was no increased risk for occasional drinkers. Consumption of one drink per day in comparison to long-term abstainers showed an increased risk for liver cirrhosis in women, but not in men. The risk for women was consistently higher compared to men. Drinking ≥5 drinks per day was associated with a substantially increased risk in both women (relative risk [RR] = 12.44, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.65-23.27 for 5-6 drinks, and RR = 24.58, 95% CI: 14.77-40.90 for ≥7 drinks) and men (RR = 3.80, 95% CI: 0.85-17.02, and RR = 6.93, 95% CI: 1.07-44.99, respectively). Heterogeneity across studies indicated an additional impact of other risk factors. DISCUSSION: Alcohol is a major risk factor for liver cirrhosis with risk increasing exponentially. Women may be at higher risk compared to men even with little alcohol consumption. More high-quality research is necessary to elucidate the role of other risk factors, such as genetic vulnerability, body weight, metabolic risk factors, and drinking patterns over the life course. High alcohol consumption should be avoided, and people drinking at high levels should receive interventions to reduce their intake.

Comparing Automated Office Blood Pressure Readings With Other Methods of Blood Pressure Measurement for Identifying Patients With Possible Hypertension: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Importance: Automated office blood pressure (AOBP) measurement involves recording several blood pressure (BP) readings using a fully automated oscillometric sphygmomanometer with the patient resting alone in a quiet place. Although several studies have shown AOBP measurement to be more accurate than routine office BP measurement and not subject to a "white coat effect," the cumulative evidence has not yet been systematically reviewed. Objective: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the association between AOBP and office BP readings measured in routine clinical practice and in research studies, and ambulatory BP recorded during awake hours, as the latter is a standard for predicting future cardiovascular events. Data Sources: The MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched from 2003 to April 25, 2018. Study Selection: Studies on systolic and diastolic BP measurement by AOBP in comparison with awake ambulatory BP, routine office BP, and research BP measurements were included if they contained 30 patients or more. Data Extraction and Synthesis: Study characteristics were abstracted independently and random effects meta-analyses and meta-regressions were conducted. Main Outcomes and Measures: Pooled mean differences (95% CI) of systolic and diastolic BP between types of BP measurement. Results: Data were compiled from 31 articles comprising 9279 participants (4736 men and 4543 women). In samples with systolic AOBP of 130 mm Hg or more, routine office and research systolic BP readings were substantially higher than AOBP readings, with a pooled mean difference of 14.5 mm Hg (95% CI, 11.8-17.2 mm Hg; n = 9; I2 = 94.3%; P < .001) for routine office systolic BP readings and 7.0 mm Hg (95% CI, 4.9-9.1 mm Hg; n = 9; I2 = 85.7%; P < .001) for research systolic BP readings. Systolic awake ambulatory BP and AOBP readings were similar, with a pooled mean difference of 0.3 mm Hg (95% CI, -1.1 to 1.7 mm Hg; n = 19; I2 = 90%; P < .001). Conclusions and Relevance: Automated office blood pressure readings, only when recorded properly with the patient sitting alone in a quiet place, are more accurate than office BP readings in routine clinical practice and are similar to awake ambulatory BP readings, with mean AOBP being devoid of any white coat effect. There has been some reluctance among physicians to adopt this technique because of uncertainty about its advantages compared with more traditional methods of recording BP during an office visit. Based on the evidence, AOBP should now be the preferred method for recording BP in routine clinical practice.