[Appraisal of self-measurement of blood pressure in the diagnosis of isolated clinical hypertension. VAMPAHICA study].

INTRODUCTION

There are no existing studies that appraise cardiovascular morbidity-mortality in patients diagnosed with isolated clinical hypertension (HCA) through self-measurement of blood pressure (AMPA).

OBJECTIVE

To find the prognostic value of AMPA for diagnosing HCA, by means of assessment of cardiovascular morbidity-mortality in clinical and out-patient measurement (MAPA) of blood pressure.

METHOD

Prospective study with 3 cohorts: 1) hypertense patients; 2) patients with HCA, and 3) patients with normal blood pressure. All patients seen at 14 primary care centres with newly diagnosed essential hypertension will be included. AMPA will distinguish who has HCA. One in every four patients will have a MAPA. In parallel, a cohort of people with normal pressure will be selected. The follow-up period will be 3 years. We calculate that the sample needed will be 1400 people. The main measurements will be the prevalence of lesions in the target organ and mortality due to cardiovascular disease in the 3 cohorts. The prevalence of HCA will also be worked out.

DISCUSSION

If the AMPA technique is shown to be as valid as MAPA, then it can be used to diagnose HCA, which would be beneficial because of its accessibility, lower cost and greater comfort for patients.