[Comparison of conventional versus 24-hour blood pressure measurement. How often do variations in diagnostic/therapeutic evaluation occur?].

QUESTION

The question as to whether and to what extent 24-hour blood pressure measurement (Holter monitoring) is capable of improving the diagnosis and treatment of arterial hypertension was investigated.

METHODS

For this purpose, 50 patients with the diagnosis--based on random blood pressure measurement--of, or receiving treatment for, hypertension were referred to our hospital by general practitioners. In 26 patients, the diagnosis hypertension, and in 24 patients the "well-controlled hypertension" were checked with the aid of 24-hour ambulatory monitoring.

RESULTS

Of the patients referred with the diagnosis hypertension, 27% were shown by 24-hour blood pressure measurement not to be suffering from hypertension. The treatment of the 24 patients considered to be "well-controlled hypertensives" was validated by 24-hour blood pressure measurement in only 13 cases.