Clinical significance of home blood pressure and its possible practical application

Abstract

Home blood pressure (BP) is highly reproducible and its reproducibility is better than ambulatory BP. Because of this feature, home BP has a greater prognostic value at least than clinic BP and is extremely effective for the evaluation of drug effects and their duration. The introduction of home BP for the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension facilitates long-term BP control. Home BP is particularly important for the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension in renal diseases, diabetes mellitus, pregnancy, and children. Home BP measurements improve adherence to medications and medical consultations, and are indispensable for diagnosis of white coat hypertension and masked hypertension. Such efficiency improves the medical economy. Home BP can detect minimal change in BP mediated by medication, and intrinsic and extrinsic stimuli and detect long-term change in BP. Thus, home BP is now indispensable for improvement in the management of hypertension in medical practice as well as for the recognition of hypertension in the general population. Standardization of the measurement procedure may elevate the position of home BP in the practice of diagnosing and treating hypertension.