ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To review the medical literature regarding the methodology of self-measurement of blood pressure and to provide some practical recommendations regarding protocol and procedure for measurement, documentation and analysis of data, choice and provision of devices and education of patients and physicians. PROCEDURE AND PROTOCOL FOR MEASUREMENTS: Technical recommendations regarding measurement of blood pressure do not differ from usual guidelines. Frequency of measurement remains a matter of discussion. At the beginning of the self-measurements of blood pressure and during the titration phase, there should be a 7-day measurement period with two measurement of blood pressure each morning and two measurements in the evening at pre-stipulated times. For long-term observation, a minimum measurement period of 1 week per quarter is required. The minimum number of measurements performed during each period should be a total of 12 readings recorded within seven working days. Depending on individual needs (e.g. poor compliance) or for pharmacologic studies, a higher frequency of readings could be used. DOCUMENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA: Owing to the lack of reliability of patients' diaries, the use of printer-equipped or memory-equipped devices is advocated. All the recorded data, except those obtained on the first day, must be used for analysis. CHOICE AND PROVISION OF DEVICES: Self-measurement of blood pressure should be performed with validated fully automated devices using a brachial cuff. The preference should be given to apparatus offering the possibility of storing and transmitting measurements. Wrist apparatus should be used with caution due to the risk of measurement errors if it is used inappropriately. A manual device should be considered for patients suffering from irregular cardiac rhythms and patients with large or small arm circumferences, since automated devices have not been validated for use in these situations. Reimbursement of hypertensive patients using validated devices should be considered, so long as they are adequately trained and supervised. EDUCATION OF PATIENTS: In a therapeutic perspective, self-measurement of blood pressure should be performed by trained patients under the supervision of their practitioner. Teaching must be performed by skilled staff in hypertension centers and ultimately in general practice. Self-measurement of blood pressure is to be recommended for any hypertensive patient who is sufficiently motivated to participate in the treatment of his own hypertension. Patients with physical problems or mental disabilities that make them unable to perform or to understand the measuring technique represent the limits of the method. Education of patients must encompass information about hypertension and cardiovascular risk, blood-pressure-measurement procedures, advice on items of equipment and their proper use, protocols, and interpretation of data. A patient's proficiency must be checked before he or she should be considered competent at performing the procedure. Annual reevaluation is required.
