LAUSR

BACKGROUND The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends the use of 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) as part of screening and diagnosis of hypertension. The optimal ABPM device for population-based surveys is unknown. OBJECTIVE Among three ABPM devices, we compared the proportion of valid BP readings, mean awake and asleep BP readings, differences between awake ABPM readings and initial standardized BP readings, and sleep experience. RESULTS The proportions of valid blood pressure readings were not different among the three devices ( p > 0.45). Mean awake and asleep systolic BP were significantly higher for STO device (WA vs. STO vs. SL: 126.65 mmHg, 138.09 mmHg, 127.44 mmHg; 114.34 mmHg, 120.34 mmHg, 113.13 mmHg; p <0.0001 for both). The difference between the initial average standardized mercury systolic BP readings and the ABPM mean awake systolic BP was larger for STO device (WA vs. STO. vs. SL: -5.26 mmHg, -16.24 mmHg, -5.36 mmHg; p <0.0001); diastolic BP mean differences were ~ -6 mmHg for all three devices ( p =0.6). Approximately 55% of participants reported that the devices interfered with sleep; however, there were no sleep differences across the devices (p >0.4 for all). CONCLUSION Most of the participants met the threshold of 70% valid readings over 24 hours. Sleep disturbance was common but did not interfere with completion of measurement in most of the participants.