Donate Help Contact The AHA Sign In Home
American Heart Association
Circulation
Search: search_blue_button Advanced Search
Circulation. 2005;111:697-716
doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000154900.76284.F6
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Pickering, T. G.
Right arrow Articles by Roccella, E. J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Pickering, T. G.
Right arrow Articles by Roccella, E. J.
Right arrowPubmed/NCBI databases
Medline Plus Health Information
*High Blood Pressure
Related Collections
Right arrow Clinical Studies
Right arrow Epidemiology

(Circulation. 2005;111:697-716.)
© 2005 American Heart Association, Inc.


AHA Scientific Statement

Recommendations for Blood Pressure Measurement in Humans and Experimental Animals

Part 1: Blood Pressure Measurement in Humans: A Statement for Professionals From the Subcommittee of Professional and Public Education of the American Heart Association Council on High Blood Pressure Research

Thomas G. Pickering, MD, DPhil; John E. Hall, PhD; Lawrence J. Appel, MD; Bonita E. Falkner, MD; John Graves, MD; Martha N. Hill, RN, PhD; Daniel W. Jones, MD; Theodore Kurtz, MD; Sheldon G. Sheps, MD; Edward J. Roccella, PhD, MPH

Accurate measurement of blood pressure is essential to classify individuals, to ascertain blood pressure–related risk, and to guide management. The auscultatory technique with a trained observer and mercury sphygmomanometer continues to be the method of choice for measurement in the office, using the first and fifth phases of the Korotkoff sounds, including in pregnant women. The use of mercury is declining, and alternatives are needed. Aneroid devices are suitable, but they require frequent calibration. Hybrid devices that use electronic transducers instead of mercury have promise. The oscillometric method can be used for office measurement, but only devices independently validated according to standard protocols should be used, and individual calibration is recommended. They have the advantage of being able to take multiple measurements. Proper training of observers, positioning of the patient, and selection of cuff size are all essential. It is increasingly recognized that office measurements correlate poorly with blood pressure measured in other settings, and that they can be supplemented by self-measured readings taken with validated devices at home. There is increasing evidence that home readings predict cardiovascular events and are particularly useful for monitoring the effects of treatment. Twenty-four-hour ambulatory monitoring gives a better prediction of risk than office measurements and is useful for diagnosing white-coat hypertension. There is increasing evidence that a failure of blood pressure to fall during the night may be associated with increased risk. In obese patients and children, the use of an appropriate cuff size is of paramount importance.


Key Words: hypertension • ambulatory monitoring • self-measurement




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
BMJHome page
J. R Ruiz, X. Sui, F. Lobelo, J. R Morrow Jr, A. W Jackson, M. Sjostrom, and S. N Blair
Association between muscular strength and mortality in men: prospective cohort study
BMJ, August 13, 2008; 337(jul01_2): a439 - a439.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
HypertensionHome page
T. G. Pickering, N. H. Miller, G. Ogedegbe, L. R. Krakoff, N. T. Artinian, and D. Goff
Call to Action on Use and Reimbursement for Home Blood Pressure Monitoring: A Joint Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association, American Society of Hypertension, and Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association
Hypertension, July 1, 2008; 52(1): 10 - 29.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
CirculationHome page
D. A. Calhoun, D. Jones, S. Textor, D. C. Goff, T. P. Murphy, R. D. Toto, A. White, W. C. Cushman, W. White, D. Sica, et al.
Resistant Hypertension: Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association Professional Education Committee of the Council for High Blood Pressure Research
Circulation, June 24, 2008; 117(25): e510 - e526.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
HypertensionHome page
D. A. Calhoun, D. Jones, S. Textor, D. C. Goff, T. P. Murphy, R. D. Toto, A. White, W. C. Cushman, W. White, D. Sica, et al.
Resistant Hypertension: Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association Professional Education Committee of the Council for High Blood Pressure Research
Hypertension, June 1, 2008; 51(6): 1403 - 1419.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
ANN INTERN MEDHome page
E. A. Kerr, B. J. Zikmund-Fisher, M. L. Klamerus, U. Subramanian, M. M. Hogan, and T. P. Hofer
The Role of Clinical Uncertainty in Treatment Decisions for Diabetic Patients with Uncontrolled Blood Pressure
Ann Intern Med, May 20, 2008; 148(10): 717 - 727.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Crit Care NurseHome page
C. A. Rauen, M. Chulay, E. Bridges, K. M. Vollman, and R. Arbour
Seven Evidence-Based Practice Habits: Putting Some Sacred Cows Out to Pasture
Crit. Care Nurse, April 1, 2008; 28(2): 98 - 123.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
StrokeHome page
M. Yong and M. Kaste
Association of Characteristics of Blood Pressure Profiles and Stroke Outcomes in the ECASS-II Trial
Stroke, February 1, 2008; 39(2): 366 - 372.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Diabetes Spectr.Home page
S. Steigerwalt
Management of Hypertension in Diabetic Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease
Diabetes Spectr, January 1, 2008; 21(1): 30 - 36.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Bio.Home page
G. S. Getz and C. A. Reardon
Nutrition and Cardiovascular Disease
Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., December 1, 2007; 27(12): 2499 - 2506.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Arch Intern MedHome page
I. Z. Ben-Dov, J. D. Kark, D. Ben-Ishay, J. Mekler, L. Ben-Arie, and M. Bursztyn
Blunted Heart Rate Dip During Sleep and All-Cause Mortality
Arch Intern Med, October 22, 2007; 167(19): 2116 - 2121.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Arch Intern MedHome page
I. Z. Ben-Dov, D. Ben-Ishay, J. Mekler, L. Ben-Arie, and M. Bursztyn
Increased Prevalence of Masked Blood Pressure Elevations in Treated Diabetic Subjects
Arch Intern Med, October 22, 2007; 167(19): 2139 - 2142.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
JAMAHome page
R. O. Powrie
A 30-Year-Old Woman With Chronic Hypertension Trying to Conceive
JAMA, October 3, 2007; 298(13): 1548 - 1558.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Contin Educ Anaesth Crit Care PainHome page
M. Ward and J. A Langton
Blood pressure measurement
CEACCP, August 1, 2007; 7(4): 122 - 126.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
PediatricsHome page
A. Chiolero, P. Bovet, G. Paradis, and F. Paccaud
Has Blood Pressure Increased in Children in Response to the Obesity Epidemic?
Pediatrics, March 1, 2007; 119(3): 544 - 553.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Arch Intern MedHome page
K. Eguchi, M. Yacoub, J. Jhalani, W. Gerin, J. E. Schwartz, and T. G. Pickering
Consistency of Blood Pressure Differences Between the Left and Right Arms
Arch Intern Med, February 26, 2007; 167(4): 388 - 393.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
HypertensionHome page
For the Atherosclerosis, Hypertension, and Obesity, B. Alpert, B. McCrindle, S. Daniels, B. Dennison, L. Hayman, M. Jacobson, L. Mahoney, A. Rocchini, J. Steinberger, et al.
Recommendations for Blood Pressure Measurement in Human and Experimental Animals; Part 1: Blood Pressure Measurement in Humans
Hypertension, July 1, 2006; 48(1): e3 - e3.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
JAMAHome page
E. Ingelsson, K. Bjorklund-Bodegard, L. Lind, J. Arnlov, and J. Sundstrom
Diurnal blood pressure pattern and risk of congestive heart failure.
JAMA, June 28, 2006; 295(24): 2859 - 2866.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
NEJMHome page
T. G. Pickering, D. Shimbo, and D. Haas
Ambulatory blood-pressure monitoring.
N. Engl. J. Med., June 1, 2006; 354(22): 2368 - 2374.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
CirculationHome page
R. S. Vasan
Biomarkers of Cardiovascular Disease: Molecular Basis and Practical Considerations
Circulation, May 16, 2006; 113(19): 2335 - 2362.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
HypertensionHome page
M. E. Ernst, B. L. Carter, C. J. Goerdt, J. J.G. Steffensmeier, B. B. Phillips, M. B. Zimmerman, and G. R. Bergus
Comparative Antihypertensive Effects of Hydrochlorothiazide and Chlorthalidone on Ambulatory and Office Blood Pressure
Hypertension, March 1, 2006; 47(3): 352 - 358.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
HypertensionHome page
W. B. White
Expanding the Use of Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring for the Diagnosis and Management of Patients With Hypertension
Hypertension, January 1, 2006; 47(1): 14 - 15.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
CirculationHome page
D. A. Leon, I. Koupil, V. Mann, T. Tuvemo, G. Lindmark, R. Mohsen, L. Byberg, and H. Lithell
Fetal, Developmental, and Parental Influences on Childhood Systolic Blood Pressure in 600 Sib Pairs: The Uppsala Family Study
Circulation, November 29, 2005; 112(22): 3478 - 3485.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J Am Coll CardiolHome page
F. H. Messerli and D. Cotiga
Masked Hypertension and White-Coat Hypertension: Therapeutic Navigation Between Scylla and Charybdis
J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., August 2, 2005; 46(3): 516 - 517.
[Full Text] [PDF]