Blood pressure measurements at emergency department visits by adults: United States, 2007-2008

Abstract

This brief shows that elevated BP readings are much more common at visits to the ED than at visits to outpatient primary care providers. Compared with the 27.0% prevalence found at visits to primary care providers, the combined visit prevalence of severely and moderately elevated BP in EDs is about 43.5%. Disproportionately affected subgroups include patients who are older, male, non-Hispanic black, Medicare beneficiaries, or uninsured.One reason that elevated BP may be observed more frequently in the ED than at visits to primary care providers is that adults in less than optimal general health are more likely to use the ED than those in good health (4). Two national objectives related to prevention of heart disease and stroke are (a) to reduce the proportion of adults with hypertension and (b) to increase the proportion of adults with hypertension whose BP is under control (5). ED visits could provide opportunities to address elevated BP through patient education, initial treatment, and referral to primary care as deemed clinically appropriate.