Achieving reliable blood pressure measurements in clinical practice: It's time to meet the challenge

Pilot Study of Intelligent Office Blood Pressure Measurement Model in Shanghai, China, 2022

Introduction

An intelligent office blood pressure measurement (IOBPM) model for community-based hypertension management was piloted in Shanghai, China, to overcome the conventional blood pressure management (CBPM) model's deficiencies.

Methods

We selected adults aged 35-89 years who were being treated and managed for hypertension in two community health centers for the IOBPM and CBPM models. The IOBPM model consisted of two or three consecutive blood pressure (BP) measurements using a pre-programmed and validated automatic device. The BP data for the CBPM model were obtained from the routine follow-up records of hypertensive patients and derived from the Shanghai Non-communicable Diseases Management Information System. Subjects in the IOBPM model were selected by a simple random sampling method, and propensity score matching was used to select a comparable control population from the CBPM model based on important covariables. The BP levels, end-digit preferences, frequency distribution, and BP control were compared between the two models.

Results

We selected 2,909 patients for the IOBPM model and 5,744 for the CBPM model. The systolic BP in the CBPM model was 12.3 mmHg lower than in the IOBPM model. In the CBPM model, there were statistically significant end-digit preferences (P < 0.001), with zero being the most reported end-digit (23.3% for systolic BP and 27.7% for diastolic BP). There was no significant end-digit preference in the IOBPM model. Certain BP values below 140/90 mmHg in the CBPM model were more frequent, while the IOBPM model showed a normal distribution. The BP control in the CBPM model was significantly higher than the IOBPM model (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The IOBPM model appears to overcome the deficiencies of the CBPM model, leading to more accurate and reliable BP measurements.

Hypertension Management Among Hospitalised Patients at Kamenge University Hospital in Bujumbura

Background

According to the World Health Organization in 2015, 40 million out of the 56 million deaths recorded worldwide (70%) were due to non-communicable diseases. These were mainly cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes.

Methods

A prospective descriptive study was conducted from October 2018 to March 2019. Availability of the files in the department's archives store for medical records and availability of trained physicians to perform diagnosis and treatment of HBP were the criteria used to select departments to be included in the study.

Results

Patients data were recorded from internal medicine department (59.8%), emergency department (18.1%) gynaecology and obstetrics department (13.3%) and surgery department (8.6%). The mean age of the patients who were hospitalised in the study period was 54 years (SD±10.2) with extremes of 18 and 104 years. The modal class was the age group of 50 to 60 with 24.4% of cases. Among patients who were hospitalised, 3.6% (127) had essential hypertension, of which 57.4% (73) were women.

Conclusion

Notable percentage of patients hospitalized at the University Hospital of Kamenge had essential hypertension. However, patients' knowledge of their hypertensive status had no positive contribution to its management.

Conventional office blood pressure measurements and unattended automated office blood pressure compared with home self-measurement and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring

OBJECTIVE

To assess whether automated office blood pressure (BP) (AOBP) measurement is a better method for measuring BP in the office than conventional techniques and an alternative to out-of-office BP measurements: home-self BP (HSBP) or ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM).

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study of 74 patients and compared AOBP with the conventional technique using a mercury sphygmomanometer and with both out-to-office BP measurements: HSBP of 7 days (three measurements in the morning, afternoon, and night) and daytime ABPM. In addition, we compared BP values obtained using HSBP and ABPM to determine their level of agreement. We used ANOVA to compare means, Bland-Altman, and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) for concordance.

RESULTS

BP values obtained by the two office methods were similar: conventional 147.2/85.0 mmHg and AOBP 146.0/85.5 mmHg ( P > 0.05) with good agreement (ICC 0.85). The mean SBP differences between AOBP and HSBP ( P < 0.001) and between AOBP and ABPM ( P < 0.001) were 8.6/13.0 mmHg with limits of agreement of -21.2 to 38.5 and -18.4 to 44.3 mmHg, respectively. The average SBP values obtained by HSBP were 4.3 mmHg higher than those obtained by ABPM ( P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Our study showed good agreement and concordance between the two office methods as well between the two out-to-office methods, although there was a significant difference in the mean SBP between the HSBP and ABPM. Moreover, AOBP was not comparable to either HSBP or ABPM; therefore, the estimation of out-to-office BP using AOBP is not supported.

Cost-accuracy and patient experience assessment of blood pressure monitoring methods to diagnose hypertension: A comparative effectiveness study

Objectives

Studies of the diagnosis of hypertension have emphasized long-term cost-effectiveness analysis, but the patient experience and costs of blood pressure monitoring methods at the diagnosis stage remain unclear. We studied four diagnostic methods: a new 1 h-automated office blood pressure (BP) monitoring, office BP measurement, home BP monitoring, and awake-ambulatory BP monitoring.

Methods

We carried out a comparative effectiveness study of four methods of diagnosing hypertension in 500 participants with a clinical suspicion of hypertension from three primary healthcare (PHC) centers in Barcelona city (Spain). We evaluated the time required and the intrinsic and extrinsic costs of the four methods. The cost-accuracy ratio was calculated and differences between methods were assessed using ANOVA and Tukey’s honestly significant difference (HSD) post-hoc test. Patient experience data were transformed using Rasch analysis and re-scaled from 0 to 10.

Results

Office BP measurement was the most expensive method (€156.82, 95% CI: 156.18–157.46) and 1 h-automated BP measurement the cheapest (€85.91, 95% CI: 85.59–86.23). 1 h-automated BP measurement had the best cost-accuracy ratio (€ 1.19) and office BP measurement the worst (€ 2.34). Home BP monitoring (8.01, 95% CI: 7.70–8.22), and 1 h-automated BP measurement (7.99, 95% CI: 7.80–8.18) had the greatest patient approval: 66.94% of participants would recommend 1 h-automated BP measurement as the first or second option.

Conclusion

The relationship between the cost-accuracy ratio and the patient experience suggests physicians could use the new 1 h-automated BP measurement as the first option and awake-ambulatory BP monitoring in complicated cases and cease diagnosing hypertension using office BP measurement.

Establishing Serum Reference Ranges for Antihypertensive Drugs

BACKGROUND

Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) involves the measurement of serum drug concentrations to optimize pharmacotherapy. Traditionally, blood pressure measurements alone, and not TDM, have been used to evaluate the antihypertensive drug response. However, approximately 50% of hypertensive patients treated with lifestyle changes and antihypertensive drugs fail to achieve blood pressure control. Serum drug concentration measurements could be useful to select the optimal drugs in adjusted doses and to identify nonadherence. Implementation of TDM in clinical routine for antihypertensive drugs depends on established serum reference ranges.

METHODS

Commonly used antihypertensive drugs were identified based on prescription data. The authors performed a review of authoritative literature on reported serum drug concentrations and calculated expected concentrations from previously reported pharmacokinetic parameters with commonly prescribed daily doses. Finally, serum drug concentrations in samples from patients undergoing antihypertensive treatment were measured.

RESULTS

Serum reference ranges for 24 frequently used antihypertensive drugs were established based on results from 3 approaches.

CONCLUSIONS

Serum drug concentration measurements, interpreted in light of the established reference ranges, together with blood pressure measurements and other clinical data, may help identify nonadherent patients and tailor individual antihypertensive treatment when deviant drug responses appear in line with the concept of personalized medicine.

Measurement of SBP at home by parents using hand-held Doppler device and aneroid sphygmomanometer: a single-centre experience

OBJECTIVE

We taught parents to use at home a hand-held Doppler device and aneroid sphygmomanometer for SBPmeasurement (HDBPM).

METHODS

Retrospective study including all children referred to evaluate hypertension over a 6-year period. Each child underwent HDBPM measurements performed by parents while awake over 2 weeks with three measurements performed twice daily.

RESULTS

Of n = 155 children, 145 (93.5%) were successful and aged median (interquartile range) 2.48 (1.01, 5.12) years, including 85 boys. Overall, there were 25, 19, 30 and 26% aged less than 1, 1 to less than 2, 2 to less than 5 and at least 5 years old, respectively. Seventy-eight (54%) had been referred for confirming diagnosis and 67 (46%) for ongoing monitoring of treated hypertension. Following HDBPM, 70 of 78 (90%) patients in the 'Diagnosis subgroup' were observed to have normal blood pressure (BP). In the monitoring subgroup, treated hypertension that required no medication changes was recorded in 35 of 67 (52%) and medication changed in 32 of 67 (48%), [increased, decreased or changed] in 22, 6 and 5%, respectively. In 10 of 67 (15%) medication was weaned and stopped completely following HDBPM. None of the children required admission to hospital to evaluate their BP level or manage hypertension.

CONCLUSION

Out-of-office BP monitoring using HDBPM is acceptable to children and families of young children when parents are taught to measure BP and supported by health professionals. We report evidence of the feasibility and clinical utility of HDBPM in a challenging population of children who are either too young or unable to tolerate 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring for both the diagnosis and ongoing management of clinically relevant hypertension.

Optimización del desempeño del observador al medir la presión arterial en el consultorio: declaración de posición de la Comisión Lancet de Hipertensión

La hipertensión arterial es una causa modificable muy prevalente de enfermedades cardiovasculares, accidentes cerebrovasculares y muerte. Medir con exactitud la presión arterial es fundamental, dado que un error de medición de 5 mmHg puede ser motivo para clasificar incorrectamente como hipertensas a 84 millones de personas en todo el mundo. En la presente declaración de posición se resumen los procedimientos para optimizar el desempeño del observador al medir la presión arterial en el consultorio, con atención especial a los entornos de ingresos bajos o medianos, donde esta medición se ve complicada por limitaciones de recursos y tiempo, sobrecarga de trabajo y falta de suministro eléctrico. Es posible reducir al mínimo muchos errores de medición con una preparación adecuada de los pacientes y el uso de técnicas estandarizadas. Para simplificar la medición y prevenir errores del observador, deben usarse tensiómetros semiautomáticos o automáticos de manguito validados, en lugar del método por auscultación. Pueden ayudar también la distribución de tareas, la creación de un área específica de medición y el uso de aparatos semiautomáticos o de carga solar. Es fundamental garantizar la capacitación inicial y periódica de los integrantes del equipo de salud. Debe considerarse la implementación de programas de certificación de bajo costo y fácilmente accesibles con el objetivo de mejorar la medición de la presión arterial.

Optimizing observer performance of clinic blood pressure measurement: a position statement from the Lancet Commission on Hypertension Group

High blood pressure (BP) is a highly prevalent modifiable cause of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and death. Accurate BP measurement is critical, given that a 5-mmHg measurement error may lead to incorrect hypertension status classification in 84 million individuals worldwide. This position statement summarizes procedures for optimizing observer performance in clinic BP measurement, with special attention given to low-to-middle-income settings, where resource limitations, heavy workloads, time constraints, and lack of electrical power make measurement more challenging. Many measurement errors can be minimized by appropriate patient preparation and standardized techniques. Validated semi-automated/automated upper arm cuff devices should be used instead of auscultation to simplify measurement and prevent observer error. Task sharing, creating a dedicated measurement workstation, and using semi-automated or solar-charged devices may help. Ensuring observer training, and periodic re-training, is critical. Low-cost, easily accessible certification programs should be considered to facilitate best BP measurement practice.

Recommendations and Practical Guidance for performing and reporting validation studies according to the Universal Standard for the validation of blood pressure measuring devices by the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation/European Society of Hypertension/International Organization for Standardization (AAMI/ESH/ISO)

: In the past 30 years, several organizations have developed protocols for clinical validation of blood pressure measuring devices. An international initiative was recently launched by the US Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI), the European Society of Hypertension Working Group on Blood Pressure Monitoring (ESH) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), aiming to reach consensus on a universal AAMI/ESH/ISO validation standard. The purpose of this statement by the ESH Working Group on Blood Pressure Monitoring is to provide practical guidance for investigators performing validation studies according to the AAMI/ESH/ISO Universal Standard (ISO 81060-2:2018), to ensure that its stipulations are meticulously implemented and data are fully reported. Thus, this statement provides: a list of key recommendations for validation studies of intermittent non-invasive automated blood pressure measuring devices according to the AAMI/ESH/ISO Universal Standard; practical stepwise guidance for researchers performing these validation studies; a checklist for authors and reviewers of such studies; an example of a complete validation study report.

[Lancet Commission on Hypertension Group position statement on the global improvement of accuracy standards for devices that measure blood pressurePosicionamento do Grupo da Lancet Commission on Hypertension sobre a melhoria global dos padrões de acurácia para aparelhos que medem a pressão arterial]

The Lancet Commission on Hypertension identified that a key action to address the worldwide burden of high blood pressure (BP) was to improve the quality of BP measurements by using BP devices that have been validated for accuracy. Currently, there are over 3 000 commercially available BP devices, but many do not have published data on accuracy testing according to established scientific standards. This problem is enabled through weak or absent regulations that allow clearance of devices for commercial use without formal validation. In addition, new BP technologies have emerged (e.g. cuffless sensors) for which there is no scientific consensus regarding BP measurement accuracy standards. Altogether, these issues contribute to the widespread availability of clinic and home BP devices with limited or uncertain accuracy, leading to inappropriate hypertension diagnosis, management and drug treatment on a global scale. The most significant problems relating to the accuracy of BP devices can be resolved by the regulatory requirement for mandatory independent validation of BP devices according to the universally-accepted International Organization for Standardization Standard. This is a primary recommendation for which there is an urgent international need. Other key recommendations are development of validation standards specifically for new BP technologies and online lists of accurate devices that are accessible to consumers and health professionals. Recommendations are aligned with WHO policies on medical devices and universal healthcare. Adherence to recommendations would increase the global availability of accurate BP devices and result in better diagnosis and treatment of hypertension, thus decreasing the worldwide burden from high BP.

Lancet Commission on Hypertension group position statement on the global improvement of accuracy standards for devices that measure blood pressure

: The Lancet Commission on Hypertension identified that a key action to address the worldwide burden of high blood pressure (BP) was to improve the quality of BP measurements by using BP devices that have been validated for accuracy. Currently, there are over 3000 commercially available BP devices, but many do not have published data on accuracy testing according to established scientific standards. This problem is enabled through weak or absent regulations that allow clearance of devices for commercial use without formal validation. In addition, new BP technologies have emerged (e.g. cuffless sensors) for which there is no scientific consensus regarding BP measurement accuracy standards. Altogether, these issues contribute to the widespread availability of clinic and home BP devices with limited or uncertain accuracy, leading to inappropriate hypertension diagnosis, management and drug treatment on a global scale. The most significant problems relating to the accuracy of BP devices can be resolved by the regulatory requirement for mandatory independent validation of BP devices according to the universally-accepted International Organisation for Standardization Standard. This is a primary recommendation for which there is an urgent international need. Other key recommendations are development of validation standards specifically for new BP technologies and online lists of accurate devices that are accessible to consumers and health professionals. Recommendations are aligned with WHO policies on medical devices and universal healthcare. Adherence to recommendations would increase the global availability of accurate BP devices and result in better diagnosis and treatment of hypertension, thus decreasing the worldwide burden from high BP.

Implementation of home blood pressure monitoring among French GPs: A long and winding road

BACKGROUND

To explore the perception of home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) by general practitioners (GPs) in everyday practice in order to identify facilitators and barriers to its implementation in daily practice.

METHODS

A qualitative study comprising the conduct of six focus groups between October 2016 and February 2017, gathering 41 general practitioners in primary care practice in Lorraine (North Eastern France), with thematic and comprehensive analysis.

RESULTS

The first reasons given by GPs to explain their difficulties with HBPM (Home Blood Pressure Monitoring) implementation were the usual lack of time, material and human resources. However, all of these motives masked other substantial limiting factors including insufficient knowledge regarding HBPM, poor adherence to recommendations on HBPM and fear of losing their medical authority. GPs admitted that HBPM use could enhance patient observance and decrease therapeutic inertia. Despite this observation, most GPs used HBPM only at the time of diagnosis and rarely for follow-up. One explanation for GP reluctance towards HBPM may be, along with guidelines regarding hypertension, HBPM is perceived as being a binding framework and being difficult to implement. This barrier was more predominantly observed among aging GPs than in young GPs and was less frequent when GPs practiced in multidisciplinary health centers because the logistical barrier was no longer present.

DISCUSSION

In order to improve HBPM implementation in everyday practice in France, it is necessary to focus on GP training and patient education. We must also end "medical power" in hypertension management and turn to multidisciplinary care including nurses, pharmacists and patients.

Determination of optimal on-treatment diastolic blood pressure range using automated measurements in subjects with cardiovascular disease-Analysis of a SPRINT trial subpopulation

Automated office blood pressure measurement (AOBPM) is recommended for diagnosing hypertension; however, optimal treatment targets using this method are not established. Discrepancies between automated and office measurements of blood pressure have been described, producing uncertainty regarding the use of AOBPM in clinical practice. The Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) results improved our understanding of target AOBPM systolic blood pressure (SBP) levels; however, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) targets remain unknown. Therefore, we sought to determine the optimal on-treatment DBP range. The analysis was performed on the participants of the SPRINT trial who had hypertension and prior cardiovascular disease. We analyzed the data of 1470 participants (mean age 70.3 ± 9.3 years, 24.1% female) selected from the SPRINT trial database of National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. The mean achieved SBP and DBP were 127.9 ± 10.7 and 68.3 ± 9.4 mm Hg, respectively. Most of the participants (57.4%) had a DBP lower than 70 mm Hg, while only 11.7% had DPB ≥80 mm Hg. Clinical composite endpoint was defined as myocardial infarction, acute coronary syndrome not resulting in myocardial infarction, stroke, acute decompensated heart failure or death from cardiovascular causes. There were 159 (10.8%) clinical endpoint events. The participants with on-treatment AOBPM DBP range of 68.6-78.6 mm Hg showed the lowest hazard risk of a clinical composite endpoint. These results correspond to the office DBP range of 70-80 mm Hg recommended in ESC guidelines. This is the first attempt to determine the range of optimal DBP values using population-based AOBPM in patients with prior cardiovascular disease.

Automated Office-Based Blood Pressure Measurement: an Overview and Guidance for Implementation in Primary Care

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The purposes of this study are to review evidence supporting the use of automated office blood pressure (AOBP) measurement and to provide practical guidance for implementing it in clinical settings.

RECENT FINDINGS

Mean AOBP readings correlate with awake ambulatory blood pressure monitor (ABPM) values and predict cardiovascular outcomes better than conventional techniques. However, heterogeneity among readings suggests that AOBP does not replace ABPM. Blood pressure (BP) measurement protocols differ among commonly described AOBP devices, but all produce valid BP estimates. Rest periods should not precede AOBP with BpTRU devices but should occur before use with Omron HEM-907 and Microlife WatchBP Office devices. Attended and unattended AOBP appear to produce similar results. This review also describes a framework to aid AOBP's implementation in clinical practice. Evidence supports AOBP as the preferred method for measuring BP in office settings, but this approach should be a complement to out-of-office measurements, such as self-measured BP monitoring or 24-h ABPM, not a substitute for it.