Limitations, advantages and instructions for correct use of home blood pressure monitoring.

Table 2: Limitations, advantages and instructions for correct use of home blood pressure monitoring.

Home blood pressure monitoring

Advantages

Limitations

Instructions for correct use

- includes patient in the treatment process;

- may be used if ABPM is unavailable, not tolerated or refused;

- more reliable than office BP values;

- more measurements, than in the office;

- may have better predictive value for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality than office measurements;

- patient may take the measurements incorrectly;

- patient may not follow instructions for correct use;

- patient may forget about measurements;

- patients may use invalidated devices;

- at least 5 minutes rest before measurement;

- at least 2 measurements each time;

- preferably 2 measurements daily before drug administration;

- at least 4 days, preferably for a week;

- discard measurements taken on the 1^stday;

- calculate the average from the readings left;

- physicians may ask the patient to bring the device to the office and control correct use of the device;

ABPM: Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring; BP: Blood pressure