[Comparison and reproducibility of 3 indirect methods for measuring blood pressure]. / Vergleich und Reproduzierbarkeit von drei indirekten Messmethoden des Blutdrucks.

ABSTRACT

It is rare to find systematic comparisons of various methods for measuring blood pressure. This study aimed to compare blood pressure measurements performed by the doctor, by the patient and on a 24-hour basis with regard to their reliability and reproducibility. A total of 84 patients were included in the study. All patients had their blood pressure measured at the doctor's office twice on day 1 and 10, by themselves and with a 24-h blood pressure measuring unit. The doctors obtained the highest means. The mean systolic and diastolic value taken on the day 1 was higher by 13 mmHg and 8 mmHg than the ABPM value or the measurement obtained by the patient at home, respectively. This difference was still present at the end of the study (7 mmHg and 5 mmHg compared to ABPM and 9 mmHg and 6 mmHg compared to the patient's measurements, respectively). The values obtained by 24-h measurement and the patients themselves showed a better reproducibility than the doctor's measurements. Both methods are thus suitably good for use in diagnostics and therapy monitoring. Compared to the patient's own measurements, the 24-hour blood pressure measurement is less dependent on the patient's reliability.