Clinic Blood Pressure Readings Often Inaccurate

Out-dated blood pressure equipment is still used in many South African offices, although modern ambulatory blood pressure monitoring equipment is already available.

Although ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) has great success internationally, the use of the ABPM technology is not widespread in South Africa.

Professor Brian Rayner, head of the Southern African Hypertension Society says that recent research has shown that decision based on one blood pressure reading taken in doctors' offices, pharmacies and clinics is often inaccurate and misleading.

Many people are unknowingly living with diabetes or obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, conditions that improve risks for hypertension. In such cases, one blood pressure measurement taken in the office will not bring result.

Since elevated blood pressure is one of the leading causes of heart attack, stroke and kidney failure, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring is strongly recommended for accurate diagnosis, control and reliable hypertension management.

However, mercury sphygmomanometer devices are currently used by most South African medical practices, but this technology is more than 100 years old. Modern blood pressure monitors do not contain mercury due to safety reasons and the measurement is based on the so called oscillometric method, which incloves the observation of oscillations in the cuff pressure caused by the oscillations of the pulse (blood flow).
Long-term decisions on hypertension management should be based on the information provided by an ambulatory blood pressure monitoring equipment, as it is more accurate than clinic or home monitoring in defining the presence of high blood pressure.

The use of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring equipment is regulated in the NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) recommendations in the UK. According to the guidelines the diagnosis of primary hypertension should be confirmed by ambulatory (24-hour) blood pressure monitoring.

With the ambulatory blood pressure monitoring equipment, multiple automatic blood pressure measurements are obtained at predefines intervals throughhout a tipically 24-hour monitoring period. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring is particularly useful in patients with:

- borderline hypertension
- white-coat hypertension
- suspected autonomic dysfunction
- episodic hypertension.

In addition, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring is also useful in the evaluation of drug resistance and medication compliance. The extended use of the technology would hinder improper diagnosis, save costs and many years of mistreatment.

Meditech ABPM-05 ambulatory blood pressure monitoring equipment, the accuracy of which is validated independently, is a reliable tool in the diagnosis and control of hypertension. If you need more information or if you request a quotation, please contact the manufacturer.