SURVEY ON OFFICE BLOOD PRESSURE MEASUREMENT DAILY PRACTICE IN THE HYPERTENSIVE CENTERS OF THE ITALIAN SOCIETY OF HYPERTENSION

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate daily clinical pratice for office blood pressure (BP) measurement among the centers of the Italian Society of Hypertension (SIIA). Design and method: The working group on ambulatory BP monitoring of SIIA developed an online questionnaire on daily clinical practise for office BP measurement. The questionnaire consisted of 26 questions regarding equipment available for BP detection in office, the procedure followed to detect it, usual practise followed to confirm the diagnosis of office hypertension. The survey was spread by an e-mail with a direct link to the questionnaire on a web platform. Results: We obtained 72 answers (rate response 60.5%). 95.6% stated the use of a validated device: 65.3% used an automatic oscillometric device, almost one third (27.8%) an aneroid device, while 6.9% used a manual device with a digital column. The majority of the offices had standard and large cuffs, while only half had small and extra large cuffs. In 70.4% of the centers BP was measured by the physicians at the time of the visit, in 15.5% by a nurse, before the entrance of the physician, in 12.7% again by the nurse but in the presence of the doctor, only 1.4% performed unattended measurements. The majority tested BP in two different positions supine or sitting and standing positions, but there was a quarter of centers that detected BP only in one position. Less than half performed 3 BP measurements, the majority performed one or two detections and less than 20% performed 3 measurements only in case of disagreement between the first and second one. To confirm the diagnosis of office hypertension the majority suggested home (40.3%) or ambulatory (30.6%) BP, 25.0% performed a tailored decision, 2.7% planned a new office BP evaluation, while 1.4% confirmed the diagnosis at the first assessment. Conclusions: Despite a correct office BP measurement is mandatory to detect hypertesion, as clearly indicated by guidelines, our results highlighted an eterogenous condition through the Italian territory