Method of Blood Pressure Measurement, Interpretation of SPRINT, and the Atlantic Divide

Excerpt

Use of unattended automated office blood pressure (BP) measurement (AOBPM) in the SPRINT trial has been the focus of much discussion with divergence of opinion regarding its impact on the interpretation of the SPRINT trial results [1]. The rationale for words of caution, provided by most recently by colleagues from across the Atlantic at the 2016 European Society of Cardiology meeting in Rome, (http://​cardiobrief.​org/​2016/​09/​06/​sprint-more-controversy-and-confusion-about-landmark-trial/​) when extrapolating the SPRINT trial results to clinical practice settings, centers on the lower BP obtained with unattended AOBPM than with routine single office BP measurements. In fact, unattended AOBPM measurements are ∼14/7 mmHg lower than routine office BP measurements. On the surface, this seems like a legitimate concern—or is it? …