Context

In 2003,1 European guidelines addressed the variability in blood pressure (BP) measurements. They proposed that two or more readings at 1-min intervals be taken at each visit,1 with further readings in case of uncertainty. They also stated that the alarm reaction to BP measurement may persist after several visits, so for patients with sustained elevation of BP, more measurements should be obtained on different occasions over a number of weeks or months before diagnostic or management decisions are made. Alternatively, ambulatory BP measurement or self-measurement of BP away from the medical environment should be performed.1 In a secondary analysis of the Hypertension Intervention Nurse Telemedicine Study (HINTS),2 Powers et al attempted to determine the optimal …