24-Hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring
ABPM is a non-invasive method of measuring blood pressure for 24 hours while the patient continues his daily activities. Includes measuring device and cuff, and values recorded will be analyzed after 24 hours using special software.
-A 24-hour BP monitor can be more reliable than individual measurements at home or in the office.
- In detecting "white coat" hypertension (elevated blood pressure in the clinic, but normal throughout the day)
- To control response to treatment
- Detection of masked hypertension (normal blood pressure in the clinic but elevated throughout the day)
- For research purposes
- In detecting "white coat" hypertension (elevated blood pressure in the clinic, but normal throughout the day)
- To control response to treatment
- Detection of masked hypertension (normal blood pressure in the clinic but elevated throughout the day)
- For research purposes
According to the guidelines issued by the European Cardiology Society in 2013, 24-hour indications include:
- Patients with suspected white coat hypertension or masked hypertension
- Patients with significant variations in blood pressure values during the same visit
- Pregnant women with suspected preeclampsia or elevated blood pressure in the clinic
- Patients with persistent hypertension
-Significant discrepancy of blood pressure recorded in the clinic with that recorded at home.
- And patients with suspected nocturnal hypertension (patients with sleep apnea, chronic kidney disease or diabetes)
- Patients with suspected white coat hypertension or masked hypertension
- Patients with significant variations in blood pressure values during the same visit
- Pregnant women with suspected preeclampsia or elevated blood pressure in the clinic
- Patients with persistent hypertension
-Significant discrepancy of blood pressure recorded in the clinic with that recorded at home.
- And patients with suspected nocturnal hypertension (patients with sleep apnea, chronic kidney disease or diabetes)
Normal values at the 24-hour recording are lower than those performed at the clinic. During the day normal values are considered to be <135 / <85 mmHg, while at night the values should be <120 / <70 mmHg.
Blood pressure is usually measured every 15-30 minutes per day and 30-60 minutes at night.
As with any exam there are limitations and drawbacks.
- Limitations on availability
- Technical difficulties related to physician training
- Inability of many patients to tolerate the cuff for 24 hours.
- Sleep disturbance due to noise caused by the device.
- Arrhythmias, which may affect the results.
- Limitations on availability
- Technical difficulties related to physician training
- Inability of many patients to tolerate the cuff for 24 hours.
- Sleep disturbance due to noise caused by the device.
- Arrhythmias, which may affect the results.
