Évaluation d’un programme d’enseignement sur la mesure de pression artérielle à domicile chez des enfants suivis en cardio-pédiatrie, une étude quantitative

Recommended standards for assessing blood pressure in human research where blood pressure or hypertension is a major focus

BACKGROUND

Although inaccurate, non-reproducible blood pressure values can result from non-standardized assessments, recommended approaches to standardize blood pressure measurement are often not followed in research studies.

METHODS

An expert consensus of national and international health and scientific organizations developed recommended minimum standards for assessing blood pressure in research subjects where: 1) blood pressure or hypertension is a major endpoint, or 2) blood pressure is likely a major mediator of the research outcome.

RESULTS

Minimum research standards are presented for training of observers, technical aspects of assessing blood pressure, and equipment for both adults and children.

LIMITATIONS

The standards are based on prior recommendations some of which did not conform to the current evidence based methods.

CONCLUSIONS

All new research should require adherence to these minimum standards on the patient populations described above. Readers need to use caution in interpreting studies if the standards are not met in the defined populations.